Systems and methods of providing ledger as a service

ABSTRACT

Described herein are systems and methods for a providing Ledger as a Service (LaaS). Blockchain technology helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum), and users/developers need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. Ledger as a Service can allow users to an develop applications more efficiently, and can allow users to easily migrate applications among different blockchain techniques and platforms (e.g., between Hyperledger and Ethereum). LaaS can also allow for simplified transactions with a blockchain, and can additionally provide simplified communication between blockchains of different types.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing distributed ledgers. More particularly the disclosure describes system and methods and components thereof for providing ledger as a service (LaaS).

BACKGROUND

A distributed ledger may be broadly described as a digital record of asset ownership. There is no central administrator of the ledger, nor is there a central data store. Instead, the ledger is replicated across many participating nodes in a computing environment that may be geographically spread across multiple sites, countries, or institutions. A consensus protocol ensures that each node's copy of the ledger is identical to every other node's copy. As well, the set of copies may be viewed as a single shared ledger. A distributed ledger may be used by asset owners using cryptographic signature technology, for example, to debit their account and credit another's account.

A blockchain is a data structure can be used to implement tamper-resistant distributed ledgers. Multiple nodes follow a common protocol in which transactions from clients are packaged into blocks, and nodes use a consensus protocol to agree on the next block. Blocks carry cumulative cryptographic hashes making it difficult to tamper with the ledger. Each block can have a reference [hash value] to the previous block in time. In addition, each block can comprise its own hash. The blockchain can be traversed traverse backwards (e.g., up the chain).

Permissionless decentralized ledgers allow anonymous participants to maintain the ledger, while avoiding control by any single entity. However, identity, accountability and auditability are difficult in light of the anonymity. In contrast, permissioned decentralized ledgers allow for levels of trust and accountability by allowing explicitly authorized parties to maintain the ledger. Permissioned ledgers support more flexible governance and a wider choice of consensus mechanisms. Both kinds of decentralized ledgers may be susceptible to manipulation by participants who favor some transactions over others. However, the accountability underlying permissioned ledgers provides an opportunity to constraints that can be enforced on participants.

Blockchain helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum) today, and users need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. When a user designed his distributed ledger application, and then want to migrate to other blockchain, he needs to modify the application a lot typically.

There are ways to alleviate the blockchain provision and management efforts like Blockchain Cloud Service, which is a Platform as a Service (PaaS), however, the users still need to know how to use the underly blockchain APIs correctly.

SUMMARY

Described herein are systems and methods for a providing Ledger as a Service (LaaS). Blockchain technology helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum), and users/developers need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. Ledger as a Service can allow users to an develop applications more efficiently, and can allow users to easily migrate applications among different blockchain techniques and platforms (e.g., between Hyperledger and Ethereum). LaaS can also allow for simplified transactions with a blockchain, and can additionally provide simplified communication between blockchains of different types.

The Hyperledger Project is a collaborative effort established as a project of the Linux Foundation to create an enterprise-grade, open-source distributed ledger framework and code base. Hyperledger Fabric is an implementation of a distributed ledger platform for running smart contracts. It leverages container technology to host smart contracts called “chaincode” that comprise the application logic of the system.

In accordance with an embodiment, participants in a Hyperledger have replicated copies of the ledger. In addition to ledger information being shared, the processes which update the ledger are also shared. Unlike other systems where a participant's private programs are used to update associated private ledgers, a blockchain system has shared programs to update shared ledgers. With the ability to coordinate their business network through a shared ledger, blockchain networks can reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with the distribution into a ledger of private information, as well as the processing time (while increasing trust). Hyperledger Fabric is private and permissioned. Members of a Hyperledger Fabric network are enrolled. Hyperledger Fabric also offers the ability to create channels. Each channel can contain a separate ledger of transactions visible to a particular group of participants. This allows for transaction privacy.

In accordance with an embodiment, a distributed ledger protocol of the fabric is run by peers. The fabric distinguishes between two kinds of peers: A validating peer is a node on the network responsible for running consensus, validating transactions, and maintaining the ledger. On the other hand, a non-validating peer is a node that functions as a proxy to connect clients (issuing transactions) to validating peers. A non-validating peer does not execute transactions but it may verify them. Some features of the fabric include permissioned blockchain with immediate finality which runs arbitrary smart contracts called chaincode. The user-defined chaincode smart contracts are encapsulated in a container and system chaincode runs in the same process as the peer. The process of keeping the ledger transactions synchronized across the network (e.g., to ensure that ledgers only update when transactions are approved by the appropriate participants, and that when ledgers do update, they update with the same transactions in the same order)—can be referred to as consensus. The fabric implements a consensus protocol and security through support for certificate authorities (CAs) for TLS (transport layer security) certificates, enrollment certificates and transaction certificates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A illustrates transaction flow in a fabric of a Blockchain cloud service system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a Blockchain cloud service system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1C illustrates a BCS system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1D illustrates a BCS system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a gateway for a Blockchain cloud service system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a persistence for a Blockchain cloud service system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example deployment of a fabric on BCS.

FIG. 5 illustrates a chaincode architecture, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system for providing a management console in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7A illustrates examples of user interfaces in a BCS console UI in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7B illustrates examples of user interfaces in a BCS console UI in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system for providing a REST proxy in a BCS instance in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9A shows a typical IDCS use case for a single sign-on, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9B shows an IDCS use case for Fabric Client Authentication, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a ledger proxy that supports ledger as a service (LaaS), in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a system for providing ledger as a service, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates transaction flow in a fabric of a system providing a blockchain service, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for providing ledger as a service, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein are systems and methods for supporting SQL-based rich queries in a blockchain fabric. In accordance with an embodiment, the systems and methods provided herein provide the ability to execute SQL queries to allow for the creation of complex smart contracts much easier and more maintainable manner. Also, performance is improved both by pushing the data filtering back to the storage engine (rather than happening at the smart contract level), and by being able to rely on relational engines which support concurrent read and write data access. As well, the state of the world database can also provide for concurrent read/write access.

In accordance with an embodiment, an example blockchain fabric that supports SQL-based rich queries in a blockchain fabric can be provided as a cloud service. In accordance with an embodiment, the enterprise-grade framework includes scalability, management, configuration, persistence, and compatibility with a diverse range of customer applications through use of cloud technologies. In a particular embodiment, a permissioned blockchain ledger and blockchain fabric are provided as a Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS).

In the following description, the teachings of the present disclosure will be illustrated, by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. References to various embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. While specific implementations are discussed, it is understood that this is provided for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Furthermore, in certain instances, numerous specific details will be set forth to provide a thorough description of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in as much detail so as not to obscure the disclosure.

The present disclosure is described with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have often been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Thus functions shown to be performed by the same elements may in alternative embodiments be performed by different elements. Functions shown to be performed in separate elements may instead be combined into one element. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries are thus within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Common reference numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout the drawings and detailed description; therefore, reference numerals used in a figure may or may not be referenced in the detailed description specific to such figure if the element is described elsewhere.

Blockchain technology has the potential to dramatically enhance enterprise business value by enabling near real-time, distributed transactions across customers' ecosystems and by enabling secure, tamper-proof data sharing. The Hyperledger Fabric blockchain incorporates modular architecture, horizontal/cross-industry technology support, and support for enterprise needs.

In accordance with an embodiment, while the Hyperledger Fabric is mentioned throughout the following detailed description, one of skill in the art would readily understand that different and varied distributed ledgers, blockchains and/or blockchain fabrics can be used with the disclosed methods and systems. These include, but are not limited to, Ethereum, Quorum, Bitcoin, permissioned and permission-less ledgers.

Introduction

In accordance with an embodiment, a Hyperledger Fabric is a platform for distributed ledger solutions underpinned by a modular architecture delivering high degrees of confidentiality, resiliency, flexibility and scalability. It is designed to support pluggable implementations of different components and accommodate the complexity and intricacies that exist across the economic ecosystem.

In accordance with an embodiment, a Hyperledger Fabric delivers an elastic and extensible architecture, distinguishing it from alternative blockchain solutions.

Blockchain—A Distributed Ledger

In accordance with an embodiment, a blockchain network can comprise a distributed ledger that records all the transactions that take place on a network.

A blockchain ledger is often described as decentralized because it is replicated across many network participants, each of whom collaborate in its maintenance. Decentralization and collaboration are attributes that mirror the way businesses exchange goods and services in the real world.

In addition to being decentralized and collaborative, the information recorded to a blockchain is append-only, using cryptographic techniques that guarantee that once a transaction has been added to the ledger it cannot be modified. This property of immutability makes it simple to determine the provenance of information because participants can be sure information has not been changed after the fact. In this way, blockchains can be thought of as systems of proof.

Blockchain—Smart Contracts

In accordance with an embodiment, in order to support the consistent update of information—and to enable certain ledger functions (transacting, querying, etc.)—a blockchain network uses smart contracts to provide controlled access to the ledger.

In accordance with an embodiment, smart contracts are not only a key mechanism for encapsulating information and keeping it simple across the network, they can also be written to allow participants to execute certain aspects of transactions automatically.

A smart contract can, for example, be written to stipulate the cost of shipping an item that changes depending on when it arrives. With the terms agreed to by both parties and written to the ledger, the appropriate funds change hands automatically when the item is received.

Blockchain—Consensus

In accordance with an embodiment, the process of keeping the ledger transactions synchronized across the network—to ensure that ledgers only update when transactions are approved by the appropriate participants, and that when ledgers do update, they update with the same transactions in the same order—can be referred to as consensus.

In accordance with an embodiment, a blockchain can be thought of as a shared, replicated transaction system which is updated via smart contracts and kept consistently synchronized through a collaborative process called consensus.

Advantages of Blockchain

In accordance with an embodiment, the currently available transactional networks are versions of networks that have existed since business records have been kept. The members of a business network transact with each other, but each member maintains separate records of their transactions. As well, objects of the transactions can have their provenance established each time they are sold to ensure that the business selling an item possesses a chain of title verifying their ownership of it.

Despite current business networks being modernized by computing systems, unified systems for managing the identity of network participants do not exist, establishing provenance is laborious as it takes days to clear securities transactions (the world volume of which is numbered in the many trillions of dollars), contracts must be signed and executed manually, and every database in the system contains unique information and therefore represents a single point of failure.

Blockchain, in accordance with an embodiment, provides an alternative to many of the inefficiencies represented by the standard system of transactions, by providing a standard method for establishing identity on the network, executing transactions, and storing data.

In accordance with an embodiment, in a blockchain network, each participant in it has its own replicated copy of the ledger. In addition to ledger information being shared, the processes which update the ledger are also shared. Unlike other systems, where a participant's private programs are used to update their private ledgers, a blockchain system has shared programs to update shared ledgers.

In accordance with an embodiment, with the ability to coordinate business networks through a shared ledger, blockchain networks can reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with private information and processing while improving trust and visibility.

Hyperledger Fabric

Hyperledger Fabric, like other blockchain technologies, has a ledger, uses smart contracts, and is a system by which participants manage their transactions.

Where Hyperledger Fabric differs from some other blockchain systems is that it is private and permissioned. Rather than the “proof of work” some blockchain networks use to verify identity (allowing anyone who meets those criteria to join the network), the members of a Hyperledger Fabric network enroll through a membership services provider.

Hyperledger Fabric also offers several pluggable options. Ledger data can be stored in multiple formats, consensus mechanisms can be switched in and out, and different MSPs (Membership Service Providers) are supported.

Hyperledger Fabric also offers the ability to create channels, allowing a group of participants to create a separate ledger of transactions. This allows for an option for networks where some participants might be competitors and not want every transaction they make—a special price they are offering to some participants and not others, for example—known to every participant. If two participants form a channel, then those participants—and no others—have copies of the ledger for that channel.

Shared Ledger

In accordance with an embodiment, a Hyperledger Fabric has a ledger subsystem comprising two components: the world state and the transaction log. Each participant has a copy of the ledger to every Hyperledger Fabric network they belong to.

The world state component describes the state of the ledger at a given point in time. It is the database of the ledger. The transaction log component records all transactions which have resulted in the current value of the world state. It is the update history for the world state. The ledger, then, is a combination of the world state database and the transaction log history.

The shared ledger has a replaceable data store for the world state. By default, this is a LevelDB key-value store database. The transaction log does not need to be pluggable. It simply records the before and after values of the ledger database being used by the blockchain network.

Smart Contracts

Hyperledger Fabric smart contracts are written in chaincode and are invoked by an application external to the blockchain when that application needs to interact with the ledger. In most cases chaincode only interacts with the database component of the ledger, the world state (querying it, for example), and not the transaction log.

Consensus

In accordance with an embodiment, transactions are written to the ledger in the order in which they occur, even though they might be between different sets of participants within the network. For this to happen, the order of transactions is established and a method for rejecting bad transactions that have been inserted into the ledger in error (or maliciously) can be put into place.

Hyperledger Fabric allows a network entity (e.g., a network user, peer, starter) to select a consensus mechanism that best represents the relationships that exist between participants. As with privacy, there is a spectrum of needs; from networks that are highly structured in their relationships to those that are more peer-to-peer.

Chaincode

In accordance with an embodiment, chaincode can comprise software defining an asset or assets, and the transaction instructions for modifying the asset(s)—it is the business logic. Chaincode enforces the rules for reading or altering key value pairs or other state database information. Chaincode functions execute against the ledger current state database and are initiated through a transaction proposal. Chaincode execution results in a set of key value writes (write set) that can be submitted to the network and applied to the ledger on all peers.

Ledger Features

In accordance with an embodiment, a ledger is the sequenced, tamper-resistant record of all state transitions in the fabric. State transitions are a result of chaincode invocations (‘transactions’) submitted by participating parties. Each transaction results in a set of asset key-value pairs that are committed to the ledger as creates, updates, or deletes.

The ledger is comprised of a blockchain to store the immutable, sequenced record in blocks, as well as a state database to maintain current fabric state. There can be one ledger per channel, with each channel comprising a separate ledger of transactions visible to a particular group of participants. Each peer maintains a copy of the ledger for each channel of which they are a member.

Privacy through Channels

In accordance with an embodiment, hyperledger fabric employs an immutable ledger on a per-channel basis, as well as chaincodes that can manipulate and modify the current state of assets (i.e. update key value pairs). A ledger exists in the scope of a channel—it can be shared across the entire network (assuming every participant is operating on one common channel)—or it can be privatized to only include a specific set of participants.

In the latter scenario, such participants can create a separate channel and thereby isolate/segregate their transactions and ledger. In order to allow for scenarios that want to bridge the gap between total transparency and privacy, chaincode can be installed only on peers that need to access the asset states to perform reads and writes (e.g., if a chaincode is not installed on a peer, it will not be able to properly interface with the ledger). To further obfuscate the data, values within chaincode can be encrypted (in part or in total) using common cryptographic algorithms such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) before appending to the ledger.

In accordance with an embodiment, privacy can also be improved with the notion of “private collections”—which are a finer grain concept than privacy by channels.

Security & Membership Services

In accordance with an embodiment, Hyperledger Fabric provides for a transactional network where all participants have known identities. Public Key Infrastructure is used to generate cryptographic certificates which are tied to organizations, network components, and end users or client applications. As a result, data access control can be manipulated and governed on the broader network and on channel levels. This “permissioned” notion of Hyperledger Fabric, coupled with the existence and capabilities of channels, helps address scenarios where privacy and confidentiality are paramount concerns.

Consensus

In accordance with an embodiment, in a distributed ledger, consensus can encompass more than simply agreeing upon the order of transactions. This differentiation is highlighted in Hyperledger Fabric through its fundamental role in the entire transaction flow, from proposal and endorsement, to ordering, validation and commitment. Consensus can be defined as the full-circle verification of the correctness of a set of transactions comprising a block.

Consensus is ultimately achieved when the order and results of a block's transactions have met the explicit policy criteria checks. These checks and balances take place during the lifecycle of a transaction, and include the usage of endorsement policies to dictate which specific members must endorse a certain transaction class, as well as system chaincodes to ensure that these policies are enforced and upheld. Prior to commitment, the peers can employ these system chaincodes to make sure that enough endorsements are present, and that they were derived from the appropriate entities. Moreover, a versioning check can take place during which the current state of the ledger is agreed or consented upon, before any blocks containing transactions are appended to the ledger. This final check provides protection against double spend operations and other threats that might compromise data integrity, and allows for functions to be executed against non-static variables.

In addition to the endorsement, validity and versioning checks that take place, there are also ongoing identity verifications happening in the transaction flow. Access control lists are implemented on hierarchal layers of the network (ordering service down to channels), and payloads are repeatedly signed, verified and authenticated as a transaction proposal passes through the different architectural components. Consensus is not limited to the agreed upon order of a batch of transactions, but rather, it is a process that is achieved as a byproduct of the ongoing verifications that take place during a transaction's flow from proposal to commitment.

Blockchain Cloud Service—Architecture

In accordance with an embodiment, a system, such as a cloud system (e.g., Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS)), can utilized the above described Hyperledger Fabric as a starting point. Such a system offers a highly advanced and differentiated enterprise-grade distributed ledger cloud platform that allows for the building of new blockchain-based applications and/or the extension of existing SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS and on-premises applications.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can support mission-critical enterprise needs such as scalability, security, robustness, integration, and performance to remove barriers to adoption and support blockchain applications in production. The system allows for users to deploy, configure, manage and monitor blockchain and reduce the cost for deploying blockchain in enterprises by providing BCS as a Platform as a Service (PaaS) Cloud solution. The system also accelerates the development and integration of blockchain applications with other platforms. The system allows SaaS cloud customers to enable their enterprise processes like Procurement, Payments, Trade Finance, Accounting, HR, CX to securely share data and conduct distributed transactions with 3rd party applications and external distributed ledger technologies using blockchain cloud platform.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system is a cloud service based on a PaaS manager (e.g., Oracle PaaS Service Manager (PSM) platform). In general, such a system is a managed cloud service that runs in compute space (e.g., external compute space). In embodiments, the system utilizes features of the PSM platform including Oracle Application Container Cloud Service (ACCS) Layered using Oracle Identity Cloud Service (IDCS), Oracle Load Balancer as a Service (LBaaS), Oracle Event Hub Cloud Service, and Oracle Cloud Storage. Each customer blockchain can be provisioned, and can be run as a tenant. The system supports multiple blockchains, each provisioned and running as a separate tenant in a multitenant environment.

Accordingly, the system allows for applications or customer applications to implement a distributed ledger with smart contracts as necessary or desirable for the applications. Clients and users of such a system can be internal or external to cloud—blockchain trust—some blockchain networks may comprise components outside the cloud environment (or could be constrained to a particular cloud).

In accordance with an embodiment, such a system can be useful for a wide variety of application functions in particular in multi-party transactions where trust and identity issues must be resolved. Unlike other blockchain systems, the provided system service is not anonymous. Indeed, identity and auditability are fundamental and integrated elements. Accordingly BCS finds applications in, for example, capital markets, cross-border transactions, financial services, asset transactions, legal regulatory applications, healthcare records, publishing, logistics, traceability, and anti-counterfeiting.

As described above, each party on a blockchain has access to the entire database and its complete history (unless the ledger has been provisioned/privatized to certain parties). No single party controls the data or the information. Every party can also verify the records of its transaction partners directly, without an intermediary. Communication occurs directly between peers instead of through a central node. Each node stores and forwards information to all other nodes. Once a transaction is entered in the database and the accounts are updated, the records cannot be altered, because they are linked to every transaction record that came before them (hence the term “chain”). If a transaction is in error, a new transaction must be used to reverse the error, and both transactions are then visible to provisioned users. To add a new valid transaction, participants can agree on its validity via a consensus mechanism. Participants in the blockchain can certify where the asset came from and how the ownership of the asset has changed over time. A digital signature can be used to authenticate document and can be placed in Access Control [varied level of permissions] And Programmability [Executable Business rules].

In many multi-party transactions, money is exchanged, when a party receives the assets or services. Typically because of transaction time, one or other party must commits goods or money before the other. In some environments, trust issues are resolved by using an intermediary which holds funds in escrow until completion of conditions in the contract. This resolves trust issues between the original parties. However, such a method adds another centralized party which must be trusted, increasing complexity, and likely the cost of the transaction. Use of smart contracts as part of the provided system can eliminate the need for intermediary—parties can conduct trusted transactions on the blockchain without having an intermediary.

In accordance with an embodiment, advantages of the provided system, such as BCS, include that the information contained therein is distributed. Access is controlled and some privacy can be maintained although auditability is available. Moreover, the blockchain ledger is essentially immutable and cannot be repudiated. The ledger comprises of a list of blocks. Each transaction block contains: Block ID, Previous Hash, Data Hash, Timestamp, Transaction ID List, Actions (1 . . . n), Chaincode ID, Chaincode proposal, Response (r/w set, events, success or failure), Endorsers. As each block contains the previous hash and its own hash, the blocks are inherently ordered and immutable once known/distributed (note: the hash of a present block is a hash of the hash of the previous block and the other data in the present block, hence linking the blocks in a chain). A consensus can resolve discrepancies. Compared to a centralized database or intermediary, there is no need to give undue authority to a centralized authority. The distributed nature of the ledger also augments the fundamental immutability of the blockchain recording technology in that the use of distributed copies—and consensus make it difficult to modify (even where algorithmically possible). Thus, given the ordering of transactions—hacking ledger is nearly impossible if somebody has a copy of the latest block in the chain.

In particular embodiments, as described below, the provided system can be based on the Oracle PaaS Service Manager (PSM) platform and is augmented with a management console which simplifies/facilitates/automates provisioning, monitoring and configuration of fabric based blockchains. Additionally, a REST proxy service including a unitary REST API is provided to simplify contact between applications and the Blockchain fabric. Developers can build smart contracts, use the management console to deploy the smart contracts, and then let the applications invoke the smart contract on the blockchain either asynchronously (which is the default) or synchronous (if an immediate response is desired). The REST proxy service and API provides both synchronous and asynchronous capabilities depending on the needs of the platform.

In accordance with an embodiment, a Fabric-CA server can provide a membership service for a fabric. The Fabric-CA server can comprise three parts: authentication for user, authorization for accessing a Blockchain (a group of peers and orders) and a CA server which could deliver certificate to application client, peer and order. Fabric-CA can utilize a certificate to implement authentication and authorization. The certificate include two types: enroll certificate for authentication and transaction certificate for authorization. In accordance with an embodiment, an identity service, such as IDCS, can also provide authentication and authorization.

Hyperledger Fabric

As described above, in an embodiment, the provided system can implement a Hyperledger Fabric providing a distributed ledger platform for running smart contracts. The fabric leverages container technology to host smart contracts called “chaincode” that comprise the application logic of the system. In alternative embodiments the Block Chain Cloud Service implements alternative distributed ledger platforms including for example, the “Tendermint” ledger system as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/169,622, entitled “Accountability And Trust In Distributed Ledger Systems”, filed May 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference.

The distributed ledger protocol of the hyperledger fabric is run by peers. One disadvantage of prior blockchain technologies is that all peers are required to record all transactions. This creates substantial I/O and processor overhead and does not conveniently scale to enterprise-grade systems. The hyperledger fabric distinguishes between two kinds of peers: A committer peer is a node on the network that can verify endorsements and validate transaction results prior to committing transactions to the blockchain, and maintain the ledger. On the other hand, a non-validating peer is a node that functions as a proxy to connect clients (issuing transactions) to validating peers. A non-validating peer (or an endorsing peering) does not execute transactions but it may simulate and endorse them. The segregation of peer types/function improves the scalability of the system. An ordering service can accept endorsed transactions, order them into a block, and deliver the blocks to committing peers. In such distributed ledger systems, consensus is the process of reaching agreement on the next set of transactions to be added to the ledger. In Hyperledger fabric, consensus is made up of three distinct steps: Transaction endorsement, ordering, and validation and commitment.

In accordance with an embodiment, a feature of the Hyperledger is permissioned blockchain with immediate finality which runs arbitrary smart contracts called chaincode. The user-defined chaincode smart contracts are encapsulated in a container and system chaincode runs in the same process as the peer. Chaincode execution is partitioned from transaction ordering, limiting the required levels of trust and verification across node types, and reducing network overhead.

In accordance with an embodiment, channels in the Hyperledger Fabric enable multi-lateral transactions with high degrees of privacy and confidentiality required by competing businesses and regulated industries that exchange assets on a common network. The immutable, shared ledger encodes the entire transaction history for each channel, and includes query capability for efficient auditing and dispute resolution. A ledger is provided in the scope of a channel—it can be shared across the entire network (assuming every participant is operating on one common channel)—or it can be privatized to only include a set of participants.

In accordance with an embodiment, the Hyperledger fabric implements security through support for certificate authorities (CAs) for TLS certificates, enrollment certificates and transaction certificates. Public Key Infrastructure is used to generate cryptographic certificates which are tied to organizations, network components, and end users or client applications. As a result, data access control can be manipulated and governed on the broader network and on channel levels. This “permissioned” feature of Hyperledger Fabric, coupled with the existence and capabilities of channels, satisfies privacy and confidentiality needs in multi-party enterprise systems.

In accordance with an embodiment, Hyperledger Fabric provides the ability to modify assets using chaincode transactions. As described above, Chaincode is software defining an asset or assets, and the transaction instructions for modifying the asset(s).

Integrated consensus mechanisms have a fundamental role in transaction flow in the Hyperledger Fabric, from proposal and endorsement, to ordering, validation and commitment. Consensus is, as described above, a verification of the validity of a set of transactions comprising a block. Consensus is ultimately achieved when the order and results of a block's transactions have met the explicit policy criteria checks.

FIG. 1A illustrates transaction flow in a fabric of a system providing a blockchain service. More specifically, the figure illustrates a Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS) system in accordance with an embodiment. At 1, Client 160 uses fabric SDK 162 to access Fabric certificate authority 170, 172, 174 to enroll. At 1.1 Fabric-CA returns an enrollment certificate to the client 160. At 2, Client 160 uses fabric SDK 162 to access Peer container 180 requesting endorsement from Endorser 182. At 2.1 Endorser 182 returns a signed RWset (read/write set). At 3, the fabric SDK 162 at the client 160 submits the endorsed TX (transaction) which includes RWset and endorser signatures to the ordering service at the ordering container 190. At 4, Orderer 192 delivers the TX batch to Committer 184 in peer container 180. The Orderers are a defined collective of nodes that orders transactions into a block. The ordering service exists independent of the peer processes and orders transactions on a first-come-first-serve basis for all channel's on the network. Committer 184 applies changes to ledger 186 and World State 188 at 5 and 5.1. The Fabric certificate authority 170 can be used to validate signatures and authorization for the peer container 180, the smart contract container 166 and 168 (smart contract), and the orderer 192. In addition, the smart contract 168 can communicate with the endorser 182.

In an embodiment, the system can utilize a Kafka cluster as an ordering service. Kafka is a distributed streaming service that supports publish and subscribe semantics. A Kafka cluster runs on a plurality of servers and stores streams of records in categories called topics. Each record comprises of a key a value and a timestamp. Kafka can thus be used as an ordering service comprising ordering service nodes (OSN-n), and a Kafka cluster. The ordering service client can be connected to multiple OSNs. The OSNs do not communicate with each other directly. These ordering service nodes (OSNs) (1) do client authentication, (2) allow clients to write to a chain 1 or read from it using a simple interface, and (3) they also do transaction filtering and validation for configuration transactions that either reconfigure an existing chain or create a new one. Messages (records) in Kafka get written to a topic partition. A Kafka cluster can have multiple topics, and each topic can have multiple partitions. Each partition is an ordered, immutable sequence of records that is continually appended to. Once the OSNs have performed client authentication and transaction filtering, they can relay the incoming client transactions belonging to a certain chain to the chain's corresponding partition. They can then consume that partition and get back an ordered list of transactions that is common across all ordering service nodes.

In accordance with an embodiment, each peer has the capability to be an endorser and a committer. There is a configuration item (e.g., CORE_PEER_ENDORSER_ENABLED) which can enable a peer to be an endorser. When a peer joins a channel, this peer becomes a committer of this channel. When a chaincode is installed on a peer, this peer becomes the candidate endorser for this chaincode. When a client proposes a transaction, it is the client's choice to select which peers to be the endorsers (from the candidate endorsers).

In accordance with an embodiment, the Ordering mechanism for Orderer delivering blocks to Peer are as follows. First, a peer (e.g., a leader peer) delivers a request for new blocks from Orderer by sending its version (the last block number). Next, an Orderer checks Peer's version: a) if it is greater than Orderer, returns an error to Peer, it indicates the ledger in Order are lost, and cannot be recovered from EventHub (in this scenario, Orderer cannot continue work properly); b) if the peer's version is less than Orderer, then Orderer retrieves blocks from local ledger, either in RAM or local file, and send back to peer; or c) if they have the same version, then Orderer blocks until new blocks are available. When a new block data cut from EventHub is ready, the Orderer will put it into local block file or RAM, then deliver thread reads this block from ledger and sends it back to peer. The peer gets this block, and commits it to local ledger, and can then broadcast its latest version to other peers.

BCS System Architecture

FIG. 1B illustrates transaction flow in a fabric of a system providing a blockchain service. More specifically, the figure illustrates a Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS) system in accordance with an embodiment. As shown, the Blockchain cloud service components are provisioned in compute space 120 (e.g., external compute space), for example on the Oracle PaaS Service Manager (PSM) platform. Access to the system is mediated by the PSM API 122 and Blockchain REST API 124. External Compute 120 leverages a load balancing as a service LBaaS 126 to distributed incoming transaction across the available appropriate resources.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS is an application-container layered service built with PSM platform on Application Container Cloud Service 128. Each of the BCS entities runs on a separate container, thus allowing multiple BCS entities to run simultaneously and independently. Each of BCS entity is one-to-one correspondence to an application container. The Blockchain Cloud Service implements features of the Hyperledger fabric described above. Besides the components that construct the basic fabric network, several components are developed to leverage the Hyperledger Fabric into the Blockchain Cloud Service. These components need separate deployment behaviors and binaries to deploy these components. A Cloud Stack Manager can be used to empower users to automate the provisioning of all services defined by the blueprint as a single unit that is called a stack.

In an embodiment, the BCS provides an implementation of the Hyperledger Fabric which is an implementation of a distributed ledger platform for running smart contracts. The BCS leverages container technology to host smart contracts called “chaincode” that comprise the application logic of the system.

In accordance with an embodiment, the distributed ledger protocol of the fabric is run by peers. The fabric distinguishes between two kinds of peers: A validating peer is a node on the network responsible for running consensus, validating transactions, and maintaining the ledger. On the other hand, a non-validating peer is a node that functions as a proxy to connect clients (issuing transactions) to validating peers. A non-validating peer does not execute transactions but it may verify them. Some key features of the fabric release include permissioned blockchain with immediate finality which runs arbitrary smart contracts called chaincode. The user-defined chaincode smart contracts are encapsulated in a container and system chaincode runs in the same process as the peer. The fabric implements a consensus protocol and security through support for certificate authorities (CAs) for TLS certificates, enrollment certificates and transaction certificates.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS entities run in layered container instances with ACCS 128. The containers are created and/or started by provisioning operations of the PSM. The Fabric-CA Container 130, is the container in which the BCS Fabric CA (Certificate and Authority) component is provided. The BCS Peer (Container) 132 is the container in which the BCS peer network entity that maintains a ledger and runs chaincode containers in order to perform the read/write operations to the ledger component is running. The BCS Orderer Container 134 is the container in which the BCS orderer which provides the service to order transactions into a blockchain for all of channels is running. The BCS Chaincode Execution Container 139 is a container created and started by the peer entity. In the container, the chaincode execution unit communicates with the parent peer entity and performs encoding of assets and transaction instructions for modifying the assets in the blockchain.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS Chaincode Builder Container 140 is a container created and started by the peer entity. In the container, the chaincode build environment is installed and deployed, and the chaincode execution unit is built in it. A client side Fabric SDK 106 provides functionality for accessing the BCS. The Block Chain Cloud Service also leverages Event Hub Cloud Service 150, Cloud Storage Service 152, and Identity Service 154. Oracle storage cloud service is used as the storage service for BCS.

In accordance with an embodiment, Docker/Weave 141 are container services. Containers provide a way to package software in a format that can run isolated on a shared operating system. Unlike VMs, containers do not bundle a full operating system—instead using libraries and settings required to make the software work are needed. This makes for efficient, lightweight, self-contained systems and guarantees that software will always run the same, regardless of where it's deployed.

In accordance with an embodiment, each BCS instance comprises of different types of nodes. There can be few (e.g., 0 or more) to multiple peer nodes in a BCS instance. There can be few (e.g., 0) to multiple orderer nodes in a BCS instance. There are 1 to multiple Fabric-CA nodes in a BCS instance, one per VM. BCS Gateway: There can be few (e.g., 0) to multiple BCS gateways in a BCS instance. BCS console is also a component of a BCS instance. There is only one BCS console in a BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS Management Server (Console) 136 is a component of BCS, which provides rich monitor, management, and view functionalities to the BCS stack instance as described in more detail below. BCS Gateway (REST proxy) 138 is a new component of BCS, and provides a REST API interface to customers/clients and is used to access the fabric to perform transactions as described in more detail below.

In accordance with an embodiment, on the public access client-side 100, A PSM Console UI 102 allows for management of Platform Service Manager. A BCS Console UI 104 allows for control of the BCS Management Server. A variety of different client types can access the BCS service including Fabric SDK clients 106, BCS REST Clients 108, and Fabric Membership Clients 110.

In accordance with an embodiment, blueprints can be defined for each type of container listed of above as an individual service type. The Oracle Cloud Stack Manager uses the blueprints to automate the provisioning of all of individual service types into a single stack unit. The benefit of defining a service type for each of BCS entity is ease of upgrading and maintaining the various running entities. The application container layered service supports four types of operations: CREATE_SERVICE, DELETE_SERVICE, SCALE_SERVICE, and Start/Stop/Restart. These operations can be applied service by service.

In accordance with an embodiment, in the Hyperledger Fabric Network, the ordering service component uses the Apache Kafka to provide ordering service and support for multiple chains in a crash fault tolerant manner. Accordingly, in the BCS cloud service, the ordering service component will uses the OEHCS (Oracle Event Hub Cloud Service that delivers the power of Kafka as a managed streaming data platform and can be integrated with the rest of Oracle's cloud.)

FIG. 1C illustrates a BCS system in accordance with an embodiment. More specifically, the figure shows a BCS runtime.

In accordance with an embodiment, clients, such as gateway-based applications 103 and/or fabric-based applications 105 can communicate with an AACS instance 128, via a network, such as the internet 107, and via a front end, such as a load balancer LBaaS 126, which can comprise CloudGate (discussed below). Incoming calls can comprise REST communication (shown as the heavier dashed line in the figure), or, in certain situations, incoming gRPC communication (shown as the lighter dashed line in the figure). Incoming REST communication can be directed to a gateway 138 (which can comprise a REST API/REST Proxy), a console 136, or an Agent Fabric-CA 130 (as discussed above). The REST communication, now transformed/translated to internal calls (gRPC), can interface with the instance of the blockchain fabric/Hyperledger (including the agent/peers 132, agent/orderers 134, chaincode 142, and chaincode builders 140). Meanwhile, incoming gRPC communication can be directly transmitted to, for example, the agent/peers 132, and the agent/orderers 134, to interface with the blockchain/Hyperledger.

In accordance with an embodiment, once transactions within the ACCS instance have occurred, the ACCS instance can then, for example, persist the ledger at the cloud storage via REST communication, or can communicate with the Event Hub, likewise via REST communication.

In accordance with an embodiment, while only one ACCS instance is shown in the figure, one of skill in the art would readily understand that there can exist one or multiple ACCS instances that the clients (such as gateway-based applications 103 and/or fabric-based applications 105) can communicate with via the described BCS runtime.

FIG. 1D illustrates a BCS system in accordance with an embodiment. More particularly, the figure shows the component cardinality within a BCS system, namely ratios of components with respect to each BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, for each BCS instance 100 a: an orderer 101 a can be provided in the ratio of 1:N; a Fabric-CA membership 102 a can be provided in a ratio of 1:N; a BCS REST-Proxy 103 a can be provided in the ratio of 1:N; a BCS console 104 a can be provided in a ratio of 1:1, and a peer container 105 a can be present in the ratio of 1:N.

Each peer container can comprise an endorser, which can simulate a transaction, and a committer, which can application changes to a ledger, which is also provided at the peer container.

In accordance with an embodiment, chaincode 109 a can be provided at a ratio of 1:N with respect to the peer container. In addition storage 106 a can be provided at a ratio of N:1 with respect to the peer container and the orderer. As well, Even Hub 107 a can be provided at a ratio of N:1 with respect to the peer container and the orderer. IDCS 108 a can be provided at a ratio of N:1 with respect to the Fabric-CA membership.

Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS) Gateway

In accordance with an embodiment, BCS Gateway (BCSGW) comprises a network node using Fabric SDK to communicate with Fabric network. The BCS Gateway provides a HTTPS RESTful API to customers on the client side which allows clients/client applications to interact with elements of the fabric of the BCS.

FIG. 2 illustrates a gateway for a Blockchain Cloud Service system in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2 , End User 200 interacts with an application adapter 202 for authentication and authorization using HTTPS. The application adapter 202 accesses the Public Cloud 210 using HTTPS to a LBaaS, such as CloudGate 212 (i.e., a LBaaS). Load balancing as a service (LBaaS) is performed for incoming transactions. CloudGate 212 passes transactions to BCS gateway 222 using HTTPS. BCS gateway provides the interface to BCS Fabric 220 in which communication utilizes gRPC remote procedure call protocol.

In accordance with an embodiment, CloudGate 212 is a reverse proxy “access enforcement module” or “policy enforcement point” that secures web browser and REST API resources using, for example, OAuth2 and OpenID Connect standards. IDCS uses CloudGate internally to secure its own administration UI and REST APIs (referred to as “IDCS Web Tier”). For other applications, Cloud Gate: OTD is deployed as additional instances in a semi-supported/interim setup known as Non-IDCS or Standalone.

In accordance with an embodiment, the OAuth/OpenID based authentication supports user browser flow (for UI client) which is triggered if the HTTP request contains a “user-agent” header, which means the request is from a UI like browser or mobile app. CloudGate prompts the user for credentials (username/password), verifies the credentials, then creates and returns the OAuth session cookie which can be used by the subsequent HTTP requests from the browser. The OAuth/OpenID based authentication also supports Resource Server flow (for programmatic client). This flow is triggered if the HTTP request contains an Authentication “Bearer” token header. CloudGate validates the token for authentication.

In accordance with an embodiment, for HTTP basic authentication, for every HTTP request, the credentials (username/password) must be included in the HTTP Authorization “Basic” header. Cloud Gate verifies the credentials for every HTTP request. This method applies to both UI client and programmatic client.

In accordance with an embodiment, multitoken flow is a self-adaptive method which covers certain HTTP requests. If the HTTP request contains an Authorization “Basic” header, CloudGate performs HTTP basic behavior. If the HTTP request contains an Authorization “Bearer” header, Cloud Gate behaves the same as the resource server flow.

In an embodiment, the BCS console browser client utilizes the user browser flow. In embodiments, for BCS console and gateway programmatic client, the system can use CloudGate multitoken authentication method. Programmatic clients can invoke BCS REST APIs via HTTP basic authentication.

In accordance with an embodiment, BCS gateway 222 communicates with peers 224 which are network entities that maintain a ledger and run chaincode containers in order to perform read/write operations to the ledger. Peers are owned and maintained by members. BCS gateway 222 and peers 224 communicate with orderer(s) 226. Orderers provide ordering services. The Orderers are a defined collective of nodes that orders transactions into a block. The ordering service exists independent of the peer processes and orders transactions on a first-come-first-serve basis for all channel's on the network. Peers 224 and orderers(s) 226 communicate with the Fabric certificate authority 228. BCS gateway 222 also provides access to BCS Management Server/Console 230.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS is deployed on a cloud system, such as Oracle cloud. A gateway can be run in an ACCS container. The gateway is stateless. A gateway can be updated by killing the old gateway and starting a new gateway. BCS gateway can allow customer queries or invoke Fabric chaincode by RESTful protocol. BCS gateway allows client to access the Fabric network in Oracle cloud by HTTPS/RESTful service. The BCS Gateway is a network node using Fabric SDK to communicate with Fabric network. Communication within the fabric uses gRPC as a communication protocol. On the client-side, the BCS gateway provides HTTPS/RESTful API to customer. The REST API allows client to invoke functions within the Fabric using the Fabric SDK.

In accordance with an embodiment, a gateway can be provided in a one-to-one relationship with a fabric user. All gateway users belong to one organization, all gateway users map to one Fabric user in one gateway. One gateway configured only one Fabric user.

In accordance with an embodiment, IDCS issues gateway certification and gateway user (“App adapter”) certification. These certifications are signed with organization CA. Gateway and gateway users can deploy with organization CA, so they could validate each other using HTTPS.

In accordance with an embodiment, each end user access BCSGW through “App adapter”. There are 3-tiers of authentication. End user 200 can be authenticated by App adapter 202. App adapter 202 can be authenticated by BCS gateway 222 with client certificate. BCS Gateway can authenticated by peers 224 and orderer 226 in Fabric network 220.

In accordance with an embodiment, one container runs one tomcat server, deploys one BCS Gateway, mapping to one Fabric user. Multiple App adapters could connect to one Gateway.

In accordance with an embodiment, different gateways can be associated with different Fabric user. End users of App adapters that connect to one gateway can map to one fabric user.

In accordance with an embodiment, BCSGW run in Oracle cloud, configuration is set by BCS console using JSON file. Admin user could publish part of peers, channels and chain code to Gateway. Admin user starts Gateway by console. Gateway don't refresh configuration after boot. Admin user can set endorsers for chain codes. End users don't know about policy, Gateway does not check chain code policy.

In accordance with an embodiment, BCSGW is started by BCS console. BCS console creates BCSGW configuration file and uses the BCSGW package to start a new gateway. Upon startup, a startup script checks the BCSGW configuration file, modifies a configuration file (e.g., a Tomcat configuration file) for Tomcat, then starts Tomcat. Tomcat starts a thread for BCSGW, the thread read configuration file, for each channel, it create a channel object, and create connections with order, peers, event hubs. Different channel will have different connection to order/peer/event hubs. The event hub here is a second port of peer. Gateway connects to this port to get the result of transaction. Tomcat servlet container can listen and wait for client request. For chain code query method, BCSGW send the request to all peers of the channel, and only use the first result. For chain code invoke method, BCSGW send the request to all endorsers of the channel, if one of them return success, BCSGW send the transaction to all orderers of the channel.

In accordance with an embodiment, an Asynchronous API is supported. A peer can open two ports, one port if for event exchange. The gateway can connect to the event port of peer. Gateway only need connect to one event port for one channel. Normal client APIs are synchronous. A transaction may take a few seconds, client need wait for response. Send asynchronous events to client is not in V1 plan. Besides synchronous transaction API, Gateway provide asynchronous transaction API “asyncinvoke”.

In an embodiment, the Asynchronous API can work in this manner. After checking the parameters of client request, Gateway will return transaction ID to client. The client can be aware that the transaction is started but not finished. Gateway will start a background thread to keep processing the transaction. The client can track unfinished transactions. The gateway can provide “transaction” API for client to query transaction status using transaction ID.

In accordance with an embodiment, a client login can be supported. The BCSGW can support HTTPS protocol, and not allow unsecure HTTP access. BCSGW uses certificates to trust app adapter or SALT. The app adapter can authenticate end users. Tomcat needs set to use HTTPS client certificate authentication. The keystore file include BCSGW cert and CA cert to validate the client is provided by BCS console. The BCS gateway provides a BCS Rest interface for client access.

Persistence—Storage Cloud

In accordance with an embodiment, a hyperledger fabric project code has the blocks of the ledger being stored in the local file system and other runtime data, like block index, state of the world, history being, and ledger provider database (keeps all ledger ID and recovery status) stored in LevelDB, which is also stored in the local file system. In ACCS, the container file system is ephemeral, meaning when the container is stopped and a new container is restarted on a new VM due to some hardware failure—the file system contents may be lost. Considering a situation where all containers are lost, then there is no way to recover ledger. So ledger data must be stored outside ACCS containers. Because of this, a persistence solution is provisioned in the form of an object storage service for use by components of the hyperledger fabric described above.

In accordance with an embodiment, accordingly in the BCS, the persistence solution utilizes a Storage Cloud Service. E.g. Oracle Storage Cloud Service. The ledger is backed-up to an Object Store. Ledger blocks written to container file system, but also backup to object storage. Index & World State are recorded using the container File System but may be recovered from the Storage Cloud Service if a container is restarted. Oracle Storage Cloud is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) product, which provides an enterprise-grade, large-scale, object storage solution for files and unstructured data.

FIG. 3 illustrates a persistence for a Blockchain cloud service system in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 , ACCS instance 300 includes a plurality of containers. Containers include, for example Orderer containers 302, 304 having ledgers/blockchains 312, 314. The ledgers/blockchains 312 and 314 are backed up over a REST interface to an Object storage 320. Object storage 320 may be, for example a cloud storage service.

The object storage is used to persist the ledger of each orderer. The current mechanism for Orderer delivering blocks to Peer are as follows. First, a Peer delivers a request for new blocks from Orderer by sending its version (the last block number). next, an Orderer checks Peer's version, a) If it is greater than Orderer, returns an error to Peer, it indicates the ledger in Order are lost, and cannot be recovered from EventHub. In this scenario, Orderer cannot continue work properly. b) If Peer's version is less than Orderer, then Orderer retrieves blocks from local ledger, either in RAM or local file, and send back to Peer. c) If they have the same version, then Orderer blocks until new blocks are available. When a new block data cut from EventHub is ready, the Orderer will put it into local block file or RAM, then deliver thread reads this block from ledger and sends it back to Peer. Finally, the Peer gets this block, and commits it to local ledger. Next, the latest version of the ledger can be broadcast to other Peers.

In accordance with an embodiment, according to the above process, either Orderer or EventHub can have the whole blocks persisted. As described above, EventHub has time limited retention. If EventHub can do it, the Orderer can set Ledger type to RAM or file, once Orderer is restarted and ledger is lost, it can replay the records from EventHub and cut the batch message into block, then can re-construct ledger. If EventHub only supports a limited retention period, once Orderer is restarted and ledger is lost, it cannot re-construct ledger correctly because the first record in EventHub is not the true record in ledger. In this scenario, Orderer cannot start the old channel because the first block with channel information is lost, and version number (the last block number) is not correct as well.

In accordance with an embodiment, then, each orderer can persist each block to Oracle Storage, meanwhile save all channel IDs to an object in Storage as well. On Peer, only persist the genesis block because it has the channel information. For other block data, Peer can retrieve it from Orderer once it is lost.

In accordance with an embodiment, ACCS Instance 300 can also comprise Peer Containers 306, 308 comprising ledgers 316, 318, and indices 326, 328. There are five types of runtime data generated by Peer: Transaction log (block file); Block file index (LevelDB); Ledger provider (LevelDB); State Database (LevelDB or couchdb); History (LevelDB). All transaction data are stored in Transaction log as a linked block in local file, it must be persisted to Oracle Storage Cloud service. Ledger provider DB keeps all ledger ID and recover status in LevelDB. The ledger ID is the unique id to identify a channel that a peer belongs to. It must be persisted to Oracle Storage Cloud Service. For others, Peer can recover it automatically at runtime, so keep them in local file system.

In accordance with an embodiment, Oracle Storage Cloud Service provides REST API for uploading/downloading file to/from an object. When a new block is generated, first, it will be written into a local block file as before, the difference is one block per file. Next, this block file will be uploaded to Oracle Storage as an object. If it fails, the changes in local file will be rollback, and an error will be returned to caller.

In accordance with an embodiment, for block file index, when Orderer updates a latest checkpoint, the information can be persisted to Oracle Storage first, then update local LevelDB. If the event that the operation fails, an error can be returned to the caller. This information will be used for the recovery for block file index. In Oracle Storage, each Peer and Orderer has unique container name that's the combination of msp id and node id. The object name is name of block file prefixed by channel name. For more details, see section Name Convention in Oracle Storage.

In accordance with an embodiment, a save Ledger provider DB to Oracle Storage option can be provided. For ledger provider DB, the entire LevelDB can be replicated to Oracle Storage Cloud Service once it is updated. This file is very small, and the update is not frequent, so the overhead on the replication can be ignored. When container is restarted, it can be download it from Oracle Storage Cloud Service if exists. If Orderer is restarted from a new container, it will download channel id from a Storage object first, then get latest checkpoint from Storage by channel id. Next, start recovery block index from the first block to last block. During this period, the block file will be downloaded one by one. After that, Orderer starts to recover State DB and History DB. If Peer is restarted from a new container, it will download Ledger Provider DB first, then it can get all ledger id. Next, get the related genesis block from Storage by ledger id. Peer starts with the configuration in genesis block and deliver a quest to Orderer to get other block data. After Peer gets these blocks, it starts to recovery block index, state and history DB.

In accordance with an embodiment, the local block file acts as a read cache. The query will read data from local first, if it doesn't exist, then download from object storage. Besides ledger, the source codes of chaincode need to be persisted to Oracle Storage. In current Fabric, an encoded source code will be stored on peer after chaincode is installed. Peer will check chaincode container for each Invoke or Instantiate, if the container doesn't exist, peer will rebuild it from source code. So, it can be upload it to Oracle Storage for each chaincode installation, and download it when peer is restarted from disk failure.

BCS: SDK Based Configuration File Operations and Post-Provision Deployment

In accordance with an embodiment, configuration files and deployment functions deploy, initiate generate, update and get configurations about the applications include peers, orderers, CA servers and chain code when deploy or update the applications. These functions reside at both BCS console (in Node.js) and Fabric containers (peer/orderer/chaincode container). The functions will get/update configurations as requested from UI, and call SDK APIs to activate the configuration changes when needed. The component as part of BCS console backend interacts with the BCS console UI, IDCS backend SDK, and all the BCS applications to provide the SDK for UI operations get/update configurations as requested. The component also helps to provision the BCS applications. The BCS provision component will deploy the BCS applications into the Docker containers of the VMs created using PSM. This feature will implement SDK API for BCS console UI and BCS provision components get or update BCS applications configurations and deployment in post-provisioning phase. In the post-provisioning phase, the provisioning system will deploy BCS applications such as CA server, orderer, peer, under Docker/Swarm. When the VM startup, it will call startup script to perform post-provisioning and VM initial work.

In accordance with an embodiment, configuration files are provided for Fabric components including peers, orderers, Fabric CA and BCS Gateway. BCS applications packages, configurations, chaincode store in Customer's Storage Cloud Service.

In accordance with an embodiment, the provision system should complete all the resources allocation. The resources include VMs, Network, and Storage.

In accordance with an embodiment, the provision system should save all the resources allocation information to the storage service. The information includes the VM number and their network addresses/account credentials, BCS application number in each VM and their type, public and internal IP. And there should also be enough internal IP addresses (accessible among VMs) for containers.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the BCS provision component has done the provision work, the VM startup script will start, then call swarm deploy the application container, and inside the container, the container startup.sh script to perform initiation operation.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS console will get the configurations from storage service when it starts, and will save the input of the user operation from UI back to storage service, and then send restart command to swarm.

In accordance with an embodiment, the security certificates needed can be saved in IDCS. Alternatively, the security certificates can be retrieved from IDCS.

In accordance with an embodiment, a BCS console backend can communicate with the BCS applications with swarm.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the BCS application container starts up, the BCS application can gather configuration details to decide its application type (peer or chaincode container or other), and then load the configuration needed.

In accordance with an embodiment, this component updates the configuration and provides BCS application startup shell code. The BCS get/update configuration file operation can be split into several parts. First, the BCS console will get configuration from storage when it starts, and save configuration into storage from BCS console when need update (shell and Node.js). When the BCS application container starts up, the startup script (in each Docker container) will start first then get configuration for its application type and get the app cert from IDCS (shell). When the BCS console UI restarts a BCS application, it sends message to the Docker/Swarm to restart the application in the container.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS console is stateless, and, when started, can gather all the BCS instance configurations and connects to the BCS applications and monitors them. The configurations will be obtained from a storage service via backend API. When any configurations change, the BCS console will call backend API to save the configurations back to storage service and restart related applications. When the customer changes the configuration items via BCS console UI, the UI will encode the configurations into key/value data, the backend code will transform it to file and save into the storage service. The BCS console can monitor, start and stop the BCS applications. The start and stop commands use Docker/Swarm APIs to implement this function.

Deployment of a Fabric Network

In accordance with an embodiment, a Fabric Network comprises the following entities: peers, clients, ordering service, and a set of protocols to facilitate the communications among these entities. Organizations are logical entities or corporations that constitute the stakeholders of a Fabric network. A Fabric network has multiple participating organizations. Member: A legally separate entity that owns a unique root certificate for the network. Network components such as peer nodes and application clients will be linked to a member. Each organization may have one or more members. One organization can contribute both orderers and peers, or orderers only, or peers only.

The first step in deploying a Fabric Network is defining the participants. This step is done out-of-the-band of Fabric network. All participating organizations of a Fabric network negotiate and conclude the composition of the network including, for example, which organization(s) contribute orderer nodes, and which organizations contribute peer nodes. Every organization which contributes orderer nodes publishes the root certificate for its orderer servers. Every organization which contributes peer nodes publishes the root certificate for its peer servers. Every organization which has clients publishes the root certificate for its clients. Clients can be separated from peers to different members in one organization.

As an example, four banks (bank1, bank2, bank3, and bank4) have decided to deploy a Blockchain network using an ordering service that would comprise orderer nodes owned by bank1 and bank2. And bank1 is only to contribute orderers in this network. Each bank is an organization of the Fabric network: bank1 has 1 member: orderers(root_cert_1); bank2 has 3 members: clients(root_cert_21), peers(root_cert22), orders(root_cert23); bank3 has 2 members: clients(root_cert31), peers(root_cert32); bank4 has 2 members: clients(root_cert41), peers(root_cert42).

After defining the participants, certificates are generated for orderers and peers. Each orderer or peer needs a (private key, signing certificate) pair to identify itself. Each member can configure and start its own Fabric CA server with its root certificate, and use CLI or SDK to request the CA server to generate the (private key, signing certificate) for each orderer/peer server of this member. BCS provides a Fabric CA server which can provide certificates. However, Fabric CA server is not the only approach to generate certificates. User can use other CA system to do the same. So Fabric CA server is not a mandatory component in a Fabric network.

After generating certificates for the orderers and peers, a Fabric network is bootstrapped by creating the system channel. There is exactly one system channel for an ordering service (so for one Fabric network), and it is the first channel to be created (or more accurately bootstrapped). The system channel defines the composition of a Fabric network:

-   -   One Ordering service         -   One or more Orderer organizations. Each org's             -   MSP ID             -   Certs     -   Ordering service attributes (e.g. type—solo or Kafka, orderer         addresses, batch size/timeout)         -   Policies (who can create channels, etc.)     -   One or more Consortiums. Each consortium contains         -   One or more peer organizations. Any peer organization which             wants to participate in this Fabric network must be defined             here in one of the consortiums. Each org's             -   MSP ID             -   Certs             -   Anchor peers

After a Fabric network system channel is bootstrapped a genesis block is created for the system channel (first block in the chains). The Orderer service administrator generates the genesis block for the system channel. The genesis block can be generated either by tool configtxgen (genesismethod=file), or during orderer startup (genesismethod=provisional). When generating genesis block using the configtxgen tool, you must compose a configuration file configtx.yaml as the input. This file contains the following information: The root certificates of all orderer organizations in the Fabric network; The root certificates of all peer organizations; Ordering service attributes: orderertype, address, batchtimeout, batchsize, kafka; Policies; Channel reader: authenticate & validate channel delivery requests; Channel writers: authenticate & validate channel broadcast requests; Chain creators: evaluate chain creation requests; Admins: authenticate & validate channel reconfiguration requests;

The Orderer service administrator starts an orderer server with configuration file and the genesis block. This creates the system channel using the genesis block. A configuration file orderer.yaml is needed for starting an Orderer server: Listen address/port, ledgertype, etc.; LocalMSP (private key, signing certificate). Each organization which provides ordering service starts its orderer servers (no genesis block should be specified).

Each organization which contributes peer nodes prepares a configuration file (default location/etc/hyperledger/fabric/core.yaml) for each peer to specify: LocalMSP (private key, signing certificate) to identify the peer; and Peer attributes: Listen address/port, bootstrap peers, gossip attributes, etc. And then starts the peer servers.

After the orderers and peers are started, the channel administrator (who has the privilege to create channel) uses Fabric CLI or SDK to request an orderer to create a channel with the following input: One consortium (must have been defined in the system channel); and one or more Peer orgs in the consortium. Each participating organization uses Fabric CLI or SDK to join some of its peers to the newly created channel.

EXAMPLE Deployment of a Fabric Network on BCS

FIG. 4 illustrates an example deployment of a fabric on BCS.

More particularly, the figure and description describe the steps to deploy a Fabric Network on BCS. In this example, four entities A, B, C, and D want to create and join a Fabric Network. The four entities discuss off-line and decide responsibilities of the various entities. Each entity creates one or more BCS instance on OPC.

In accordance with an embodiment, Entity A provides both orderers and peers. Entity A creates two instances: Orderer_Org1 401 for orderers and Peer_Org1 421 for peers. Entity A is also responsible for creating the Fabric network (note: only an orderer can create a Fabric network). The ordering service 400 comprises Orderer_Org1 401 and Orderer_Org2 402 as well as Kafka cluster 410.

In accordance with an embodiment, Entity B provides both orderers and peers. Entity B creates two instances: Orderer_Org2 402 for orderers and Peer_Org2 422 for peers.

In accordance with an embodiment, Entity C provides only peers. Entity C creates instance Peer_Org3 423.

In accordance with an embodiment, Entity D provides only peers. Entity D creates instance Peer_Org4 424.

In accordance with an embodiment, the administrator of each BCS instance collects the CA certificate and admin certificate of the current org from BCS console. The administrator of each peer org identifies the anchor peers of the current org and collects the IP/port of the anchor peers. The four entities exchange all the collected information with each other off-line.

In accordance with an embodiment, from the BCS console, the administrator of Orderer_Org1 creates the Fabric network by creating the system channel with the following information collected in previous step: the CA certificate and admin certificate of each org; and the anchor peers of each peer org. The backend work includes invoking Fabric tool to create genesis block and configuring orderer to create the system channel using the genesis block.

In accordance with an embodiment, from the BCS console, the administrator of each peer org joins the Fabric network by updating the configuration of all peer nodes to add the CA/admin certificates of other orgs collected, and restarting all the peer nodes.

In accordance with an embodiment, in a system, a method is provided to allow a new org to join an existing Fabric network. Furthermore, a user-friendly method can be provided to facilitate the communications among participants in order to create/join Fabric network, e.g. to cover the off-line actions in preliminary to forming the fabric.

Chaincode (Smart Contract) Container

In accordance with an embodiment, and as discussed above chaincode is software defining an asset or assets, and the transaction instructions for modifying the asset(s). Chaincode enforces the rules for reading or altering key value pairs or other state database information. Chaincode functions execute against the ledger current state database and are initiated through a transaction proposal. Chaincode execution results in a set of key value writes (write set) that can be submitted to the network and applied to the ledger on all peers.

In accordance with an embodiment, to support the consistent update of information—and to enable a number of ledger functions (transacting, querying, etc.)—a blockchain network uses smart contracts to provide controlled access to the ledger. Smart contracts can encapsulate information, replicate it automatically across the fabric, and they can also be written to allow participants to execute certain aspects of transactions automatically.

In accordance with an embodiment, Hyperledger Fabric smart contracts are written in chaincode and are invoked by an application external to the blockchain when that application needs to interact with the ledger. In most cases chaincode only interacts with the database component of the ledger, the world state (querying it, for example), and not the transaction log.

In accordance with an embodiment, Hyperledger fabric utilizes the Docker engine to build chaincode, deploy it and keep it running. This section describes the fabric architecture and how it is integrated into an ACCS layered model for BCS.

In accordance with an embodiment, fabric deploys and manages user chaincode as follows: First build the chaincode in an ephemeral CC env container. Second, the chaincode is transferred as source code into the builder container, compiled with needed libraries statically linked (“Java build”), then the binary is sent back to the peer. The static link allows the actual chaincode container to be as small as possible. Third, build a chaincode image and container and start it. The chaincode container then remains running until the peer is shut down or the channel terminated. Should the chaincode container crash or be killed, if the image exists it is re-started on the next invocation. The design is to have one chaincode Docker container per peer and channel. Chaincode is explicitly installed on peers. That is: not all peers that join a channel necessarily have chaincode installed.

In accordance with an embodiment, users can deploy a fabric network in ACCS layered containers, which have the ability to transparently distribute components such as peers, orderers and chaincode. Chaincode runtime environment containers (ccenv) will be dynamically started as ACLS containers Chaincode binary will be saved in Cloud Storage since local block storage is not considered a reliable way of recovering. Once built chaincode binaries will be uploaded to Cloud Storage for recovery purposes in case of container crash.

In accordance with an embodiment, each chaincode interaction can correspond to various functions of chaincode. The only restriction is that chaincode cannot be invoked or queried until it is instantiated. Additionally, upon any invocation the chaincode container is re-started if it cannot be found running.

FIG. 5 illustrates a chaincode architecture, in accordance with an embodiment. More specifically, the figure illustrates a chaincode architecture which allows a client 530 to install chaincode and run transactions in ACCS environment 500 according to an embodiment. Step 1, Client 530 installs chaincode source code to a Peer 1, 510. First build the chaincode in an ephemeral CC env container. When a client 530 performs “install”, it will: start a builder container, which will automatically start a builder agent, wait for the builder container to finish initializing, send the chaincode source code to the builder container via peer, (step 2). The builder agent will build chaincode (Java build). The chaincode is transferred as source code into the builder container, compiled with needed libraries statically linked (“Java build”), then the binary is sent back to the peer. The static link allows the actual chaincode container to be as small as possible. Once built, the chaincode package (tgz file) will be uploaded to Cloud Storage 560 (step 3). The builder agent will send the Cloud Storage location to the peer for later reference (step 4.2).

In accordance with an embodiment, the peer 510 will then start the CC env as an ACLS (Access Control Lists) container 520, using the PSM REST API. Build a chaincode image and container and start it. The chaincode container then remains running until the peer is shut down or the channel terminated. The peer 510 will pass the chaincode ID, self IP (for chaincode registration) and Cloud Storage location to ACLS container start (step 4.1). The peer will wait for chaincode to start, or time out after a set period. The ccenv will start the chaincode. Upon startup, the chaincode will register itself with the peer step 4.3). The chaincode will be ready for invocation in transactions (step 5), which will be performed using the connection established at registration time.

In accordance with an embodiment, the builder container 550 comprises a simple REST-type server. The builder container 550 comprises builder agent 553. The builder container 550 starts up and listens for a chaincode build request. When the builder container 550 receives a build request, e.g.: POST call with base64 encoded source code as body it base64 decodes the source code and saves the chaincode source code in in local filesystem. The builder agent 553 then performs “Java build” on the source code. If “Java build” is successful, the builder agent 553 package binaries and upload to Cloud Storage 560. The builder agent also returns the chaincode location to the peer. If “Java build” fails, the agent returns the error and reason to the peer.

BCS Management Console

As described above, each instance of a BCS can include a management console, which can be used to manage and monitor the BCS instance, including the BCS Gateway, BCS nodes, and BCS channels.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system for providing a management console can include a web application running in a script runtime environment, for example, Node.js. The web application can be built on a graphical user interface framework and a web framework; and can include a plurality of custom functions or APIs to communicate with various nodes or services in a BCS instance. The web application can populate information from the various nodes or services in the BCS instance into a view object, for display in a console user interface. The management console can also provide functionalities for an administrator to start, stop and update one or more nodes in a BCS instance. A set of management REST APIs can be provided by the script runtime environment or can be accessed by the script runtime environment, to support the same functions as provided by the web application.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can facilitate the monitoring and management of the associated BCS instance through a web interface provided by the web application, or through a custom REST client application written using the set of management REST APIs.

In accordance with an embodiment, the management console can enable a BCS administrator to manage a plurality of components of the BCS instance, including one or more peer nodes, one or more orderer nodes, one or more Fabric-CA nodes, one or more BCS gateway nodes, channels, and one or more chaincodes.

In accordance with an embodiment, managing a BCS component can include performing one or more of the following operations: starting the component, stopping the component, adding the component, removing the component, viewing/editing attributes of the component, viewing performance metrics of the component, and view logs of the component.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system for providing a management console in accordance with an embodiment.

As shown in the figure, a BCS management console 136 can be provided as a component of a BCS instance in the application container cloud service 128. The BCS management console can be a web application running in a script runtime environment 605, which can represent a runtime environment provided by Node.js.

In accordance with an embodiment, within the management console, there can be a Fabric node SDK 611, a plurality of Fabric custom functions 613, and a plurality of ACCS APIs 615. The SDK, custom functions and ACCS APIs can be used to communicate with a Fabric network 601, which can comprise a distributed streaming service (e.g., Kafka) 603. The management console can further include a view object 623 that can contain information that needs to be displayed in the BCS console UI 104 or a REST-client 604, or contain information that needs to be passed from the BCS console UI or the REST-client to the management console. A Fabric node SDK 611 can operate to map the information from the Fabric network and the information the BCS console UI or the REST-client.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS management console can further include a GUI framework (e.g., JET) 617 and a web framework (e.g., Express) 619. The GUI framework can provide a variety of user interface (UI) components and elements that can be used in the management console web application. For example, the UI components and elements can be used to create forms, collect data, and visualize data. The web framework can be written in JavaScript and can provide a web application framework including a robust set of features to develop web and mobile applications.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate examples of user interfaces in a BCS console UI in accordance with an embodiment.

In accordance with an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, a BCS summary 711 can be displayed in a dashboard. The summary can include the number of organizations, the number of peers, the number of orderers, the number of channels and the number of chaincodes.

In accordance with an embodiment, health information 713 of the BCS instance can be displayed. The health information can be visually displayed and numerally displayed. The sample UI can also display transaction execution 714 and ledges summary 715.

In accordance with an embodiment, FIG. 7B illustrates information for all the nodes in the BCS instance. For example, the sample UI shows a total of 5 nodes, including 2 peers, 1 order, 1 Fabric-CA, and 1 REST proxy (within a BCS gateway node). For each node, the summary UI 717 displays the name of the node 723, the route information of the node 725, the type of the node 729, and the status information of the node 731. The sample UI include a button 721 for an administrator to add nodes, and one or more dropdown lists 719 to filter the nodes.

Node Management

In accordance with an embodiment, there can be two entities that can manage a BCS instance using the management console: BCS administrator and BCS user. There is only one BCS administrator account for each BCS instance. The BCS administrator account can be created when the BCS instance is created. The BCS administrator can be bundled with the Fabric-CA administrator (i.e., all the actions that the BCS administrator performs from the BCS console or via BCS management REST APIs use the Fabric-CA administrator identity). There can be more than one BCS user account, which can be created by BCS administrator by registering a Fabric-CA identity.

In accordance with an embodiment, the nodes in a BCS instance can be displayed in one web page. The management console can support two modes. In the first mode, the name, type, access URL, and status of each node can be presented as a list. In the second mode, the channels that each peer participates in can be presented in diagram.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment, the management console can enable a BCS administrator to start and stop a peer node, an orderer node, a Fabric-CA node, and a BCS gateway node; and add and remove a peer node, an orderer node, and a BCS gateway node. A Fabric CA node cannot be added or removed.

In accordance with an embodiment, when adding a node, the BCS administrator can set the attributes of the node. The newly added node can be started automatically as part of the add operation. When a node is removed, the node is stopped and removed from the BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS console UI can list all the channels that an active peer node participates in, and all the chaincodes that are installed on the active peer node.

In accordance with an embodiment, when managing peer nodes, the BCS administrator can join an active peer node to an existing channel, and view and edit the attributes of an active orderer node. A BCS user can view some of the attributes of an active peer node.

Further, snapshot performance metrics for an active peer node can be displayed in the BCS console UI, such as: memory usage, CPU percentage used, Network I/O, and Disk I/O.

In accordance with an embodiment, when managing orderer nodes, the BCS administrator can view the logs of an active orderer node, view and edit the attributes of an active orderer node. A BCS user can view some of the attributes of an active peer node. Similarly to managing a peer node, the BCS administrator can view the following snapshot performance metrics for an active orderer node: memory usage, CPU percentage used, Network I/O, and Disk I/O.

In accordance with an embodiment, when managing Fabric CA nodes, the BCS administrator can view and edit the attributes of an active Fabric CA node, get the CA certificate from the active Fabric CA node, and view the logs of the active Fabric CA node. Further, the BCS administrator can view the following performance metrics of the active Fabric node: memory usage, CPU percentage used, Network I/O, and Disk I/O.

As described above, managing a BCS gateway node can include adding or more removing a BCS gateway node. Since a maximum number of allowed BCS Gateway nodes is designated at the time a particular BCS instance is instantiated, the number of BCS gateway nodes that can be added to the BCs instance is limited by the configured maximum allowed number of BCS Gateways.

In accordance with an embodiment, each BCS gateway node can have a name, which is the globally unique identity of the gateway node. The name can be referred to in the future when the BCS gateway node is configured. The network address can also be determined and displayed when creating a BCS gateway node.

In accordance with an embodiment, when configuring a BCS gateway node, the BCS administrator can define a BCS gateway configuration file, and bootstrap the BCS gateway node. When a BCS instance is being provisioned, there may not be any channel created or chaincode deployed. As such, the BCS gateway node is not functional, until one or more chaincodes are deployed, and a valid BCS gateway configuration is defined through the management console.

For each BCS gateway node, there can be a configuration page. Below items, in certain embodiments, can be configured in the configuration page:

-   -   1). Channels: Choose which channels to expose through the         current gateway node.     -   2). Chaincodes: Chose which instantiated chaincode to expose         from a list of all instantiated chaincodes in each channel.     -   3). Endorsers: For each chaincode, define the endorsing peers.     -   4). Generate the BCS gateway configuration according to the         settings described above. Once a valid configuration file is         generated for the BCS gateway, the gateway can be started.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS console allows a view of BCS gateway properties using a list view function. On the list view, below information is provided for each BCS gateway:

-   -   1). Name: the global unique name designated when the gateway is         created.     -   2). Fabric identity name: Each BCS gateway can be associated         with a Fabric client identity, which is registered and enrolled         when the BCS gateway is created. All the actions that the BCS         gateway takes (e.g. invoke, query) can be entitled as this         Fabric client.     -   3). Network address: The accessing point with a public internet         network address.     -   4). Status: Up or down.

In accordance with an embodiment, the management console also allow the BCS administrator to view the logs of an active BCS gateway node, and view the following BCS gateway metrics:

-   -   1). Connected clients: Client name, address, logon time, etc.     -   2). Current transaction information: current transaction         information can be available along with state information, i.e.         in what state this transaction is in. The current transaction         information can be useful in debugging a hung transaction.     -   3). Transaction statistics: Transaction statistics can be         available through the management console UI. For example, the         transaction statistics can include the number of transactions         completed, the number of event notifications received, and the         number of event notifications delivered.     -   4). Memory usage.     -   5). CPU percentage.     -   6). Network I/O.     -   7). Disk I/O.         Channel Management

In accordance with an embodiment, a BCS user can list all channels that the current BCS instance participates in. The BCS administrator can create a channel with a channel name, a consortium name, and one or more organization names as inputs. Output can also be displayed to indicate the success or failure of the channel creation.

In accordance with an embodiment, a BCS user can view the participating nodes and organizations of a channel. The management console can support tow view modes: list mode and topology mode. In the list mode, the participating local nodes and external organizations (represented by its anchor peer) can be listed as a list. In the topology mode, the participating local nodes and external organizations (represented by its anchor peer) can be represented in a topology diagram.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can query the ledger of a peer in a channel. The ledger can comprise of a list of transaction blocks, each of which blocks can contain a block ID, a previous hash, a data hash, a timestamp, a transaction ID list, actions (1 . . . n), a chaincode ID, a chaincode proposal, a response (r/w set, events, success or failure), and one or more endorsers. The following statistics data can also be displayed: a number of blocks, and a number of invocations.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can list all the chaincodes instantiated in a channel. The listed items can include the chaincode ID and version. The BCS administrator can also view the following information of an instantiated chaincode: Path, which is the path as specified by the instantiated transaction; and instantiation arguments.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can upgrade an instantiated chaincode in a channel. The upgrade operation can take the following inputs: target endorsing peers with the new version of the chaincode installed; one or more orderers; chaincode version; and arguments, which optionally can be String array arguments specific to the chaincode. The output of the upgrade operation can be a success or a failure with error messages.

Chaincode Management

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can list all the chaincodes installed on any peers of the current BCS instance. The listed item includes the chaincode ID and version. In addition, the BCS administrator can also view the following information of an installed chaincode: local peer nodes with the installed chaincode, and channels that have instantiated the chaincode.

In accordance with an embodiment, through the management console, the BCS administrator can install chaincode to one or more local peer nodes. The input for the installation operation can include: target peers; chaincode type, for example, golang/Java; chaincode ID which can be the name of the chaincode; chaincode version; chaincode path which can be the location of the source code of the chaincode; and chaincode package, which is optional. The output of the installation operation can be a success or a failure with an error message.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can instantiate an installed chaincode to a channel, with the following information as the inputs: channel name; target endorsing peers with the chaincode installed thereon; orderer; arguments which can be optional and can be String array arguments specific to the chaincode; and endorsement policy, with a defined format or a default format in the absence of a defined format.

Membership Management

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS administrator can list all the identities in the current BCS instance, register a new user/identity for the current BCS instance, deregister an identity, and remove the user from the current BCS instance. Further, the BCS administrator can view/edit the following attributes of an identity, as shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Attribute Type Access Descriptions Roles Orderer, Peer, R R Application, User Affiliation BCS Administrator R The application roles of Smart-Contract Dev IDCS BCS application Smart-Contract User which is associated with the current user. IsEnrolled Boolean R R

In accordance with an embodiment, the management console enable a BCS user can enroll or reenroll itself, which can generate a private key and certificate for the user. The management console also enable the BCS administrator to revoke an identity which was enrolled before, and enable a BCS user to change its password.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS management console can be started or stopped along with the start or stop of the associated BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, there can be two ways to set the log level of the BCS management console: from the BCS management console itself, and use the management REST APIs to change the log level at runtime.

Rest API

As described above, communication among different components within a Fabric network is based on gRPC protocol. As such, a BCS instance based on the Fabric network would require a client application to use a Fabric SDK to call a chaincode in the BCS instance.

Requiring a client application to use a Fabric SDK to communicate with the blockchain cloud service can partially cancel out the benefits of providing the blockchain framework as a cloud service. For example, one of the benefits is that the cloud service should be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system and method described herein can provide a REST proxy within the BCS instance. The REST proxy can provide a plurality of REST APIs for use by REST clients to query through chain codes, synchronously or asynchronously invoke transactions through chain codes, get transaction statuses, and get BCS proxy versions. The REST proxy can authenticate REST calls from REST calls, and translate the REST calls into GRPC calls. The REST proxy further provide REST APIs that support the same functions which are provided by the BCS management console.

In accordance with an embodiment, the REST proxy provide a user interface for client applications to consume the BCS instance.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system for providing a REST proxy in a BCS instance in accordance with an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the REST proxy 138 can include a REST authenticator 827 and a protocol converter 829. When the BCS REST API client 808 sends a REST call 815 to the REST proxy, the LBaaS 126, which is connected to the cloud gate 811, can authenticate the call to determine whether the REST call include a valid user name and a valid password to allow the REST to access the BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, if the REST call is authenticated by the LBaaS, the LBaaS can direct the REST call to the REST proxy, which can forward the REST call 835 to an IDCS 813 to determine whether the client application has been granted appropriate authorization with the BCS.

In accordance with an embodiment, if the client application is appropriately authorized, the REST proxy can translate/convert the REST call into a gRPC call 825, and send the GRPC call to the Fabric network 601. The REST call, once transformed/translated to internal calls (gRPC), can interface with the instance of the blockchain fabric/Hyperledger.

In accordance with an embodiment, the REST call can be translated by the protocol convertor, which can be a Java application based on a Fabric Java SDK 831 with a GRPC library 833.

As further shown in FIG. 8 , the REST proxy can communicate with the management console as described above using REST 821, to expose one or more functionalities provided by REST APIs 823 to the management console.

Example REST APIs

In accordance with an embodiment, before invoking the REST API for a BCS instance, the REST Proxy needs to be up and running. The status of the REST proxy can be check through the management console. If the REST proxy is not up and running, it needs to be started from the management console.

In accordance with an embodiment, the REST APIs can be invoked to interact with smart contracts (chaincode) deployed on peer nodes in a BCS instance. The deployment process can be accomplished through the management console.

In accordance with an embodiment, provided are example REST APIs, which are provided for the purpose of illustration. The examples used herein assume the following example chaincode is deployed to the BCS network.

Function Name Input Parameters Function Description funcquery Args[0]: account A This function is to query the information for the specified account A, and then returns the account information. funcinvoke Args[0]: account A This function performs a Args[1]: account B transaction, which moves Args[2]: amount of amount of money C from money C account A to account B.

In accordance with an embodiment, further, the examples the management console. If the REST proxy is not up and running, it can be started from the management console.

In accordance with an embodiment, the REST APIs can be invoked to interact with smart contracts (chaincode) deployed on peer nodes in a BCS instance. The deployment process can be accomplished through the management console.

In accordance with an embodiment, provided are example REST APIs, which are provided for the purpose of illustration. The examples used herein assume the following example chaincode is deployed to the BCS network.

In accordance with an embodiment, the REST API provides the following functionalities: Query through chaincode; Invocation of transaction through chain code; Async-invocation of transaction through chain code; Get transaction status; and Get BCS gateway version. Clients access the BCS gateway using HTTPS and utilize messages format according to the API in order to perform these functions.

In accordance with an embodiment, the functionality Query through chaincode invokes the chain code to perform query action, the chain code and arguments for query are specified through REST API. Get Transaction status: This REST API query the channel for transaction status, the channel and transaction ID are specified through REST API. Get Gateway Version. This REST API returns the Gateway version info.

In accordance with an embodiment, the functionality Invocation of Transaction through chaincode: This REST API invokes the chain code to perform transaction action, the chain code and arguments for invocation are specified through REST API. This REST API performs the transaction in synchronize mode, which means the response is sent back in any of the following three cases: The transaction is done successfully; the transaction is failed to be done; or the transaction time outs.

In accordance with an embodiment, the functionality Async-Invocation of Transaction through Chain Code: This REST API invokes the chain code to perform transaction action, the chain code and arguments for invocation are specified through REST API. This REST API performs the transaction in asynchronous mode, which means a response/acknowledgement is sent back immediately after the transaction is submitted without waiting for the complete or timeout of it. Results may then be provided subsequently. BCS Instance Management REST APIs are provided to support the same functions which are provided by BCS console (described below).

Fabric Certificate Authority (Fabric CA) Integrated with Identity Cloud Service (IDCS)

In accordance with an embodiment, Fabric-CA server provided the membership service for Fabric. It includes three parts: authentication for user, authorization for accessing a Block chain (a group of peers and orders) and CA server which could deliver certificate to application client, peer and order. Fabric-CA use certificate to implement authentication and authorization. The certificate include two types: enroll cert for authentication and transaction cert for authorization. IDCS also provide authentication and authorization. But its authorization is implemented by OAuth. That means if the peer wants to access the order, the peer should get the access token of user from IDCS and use this token to access order.

In accordance with an embodiment, Fabric CA uses Database or LDAP to store Fabric CA's registered user's info, e.g., user's name/password, user's certification, and user's affiliation. The end user of the Public Cloud (OPC) would apply one centralized IDCS instance to manage their employees to access all of their applied Public Cloud (OPC) instances. The Blockchain Cloud Service BCS preferably integrates with IDCS used for other cloud services. Thus, the end user is enabled to apply one centralized IDCS instance to manage their employees to access all of their applied Public Cloud (OPC) instances, included BCS.

In an embodiment, the Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS) uses Oracle Identify Cloud Service (IDCS) to store user information in a centralized manner. The BCS stores Fabric CA user's information into IDCS and thereby allows Oracle BCS to use IDCS to manage BCS user's info centralized across multiple Public Cloud service instances. Thus, in an embodiment, BCS Fabric CA user's info, certificates, are stored in Oracle IDCS. The Fabric Certificate Authorization framework is a Fabric membership provider (MSP) which includes PKI private key, signed certificates, CA certificate chains, and it is set up by Fabric CA client/server.

In accordance with an embodiment, BCS leverages the user management of OPC. Any BCS user must be an OPC user (so an IDCS identity) first. When a BCS instance is created, several types of applications are created: BCS console, CA, and REST-proxy. For the console, there are two app Roles: console admin and console user. For CA, there are four app Roles: Fabric admin, Fabric client, Fabric peer, Fabric orderer. For REST-proxy, there are at two app Roles: gateway admin, and gateway user.

In accordance with an embodiment, in order to become a BCS user, an OPC user needs to be granted with certain BCS appRoles in OPC user management console.

When creating a BCS instance, the creator needs to provide an existing OPC user/password, and this user will be automatically granted with BCS console admin and Fabric admin roles so that this user becomes BCS administrator.

Authentication: for BCS console/CA/REST-proxy, the authentication is done at Cloud Gate. For peer/orderer, the authentication is signature based. For BCS console, after authentication, the console gets the appRoles of the current user (by calling IDCS). If the user is not granted with console admin or console user role, the connection is rejected. Otherwise, the console does the access control based on the pre-defined rules, e.g. normal user generally can only read info while admin can do anything.

In accordance with an embodiment, for CA, after authentication, the CA gets the appRoles of the current user. If the user is not granted with any Fabric role, the enroll request is rejected.

In accordance with an embodiment, for REST-proxy, after authentication, the REST-proxy gets the appRoles of the current user. If the user is not granted with gateway admin or gateway user role, the request is rejected. Otherwise the REST-proxy does the access control based on pre-defined rules, e.g. normal user can invoke/query, admin can change configuration, get metrics.

In accordance with an embodiment, Fabric-CA server provides the membership service for Fabric. It includes three parts: authentication for user, authorization for accessing a Block chain (a group of peers and orders) and CA server which could deliver certificate to application client, peer and order.

In accordance with an embodiment, Fabric-CA use certificate to implement authentication and authorization. The certificate include two types: enroll cert for authentication and transaction cert for authorization.

In accordance with an embodiment, IDCS also provide authentication and authorization. But its authorization is implemented by OAuth. That means if the peer wants to access the order, the peer should get the access token of user from IDCS and use this token to access order.

FIG. 9A shows a typical IDCS use case for a single sign-on, in accordance with an embodiment.

In accordance with an embodiment, a web application 901 can be added to IDCS 902 at an initial step. Then, a client, such as a web browser 900, can request authentication (e.g., username and password) from the web application. Because the web application has been added to the IDCS, the web application can direct the web browser to make the authentication request to IDCS. After receiving the response from the web application, the web browser can then request authentication (e.g., username and password) from IDCS.

IDCS can then authenticate the request and, upon successful authentication, send a token back to the web browser. The web browser, having been authenticated and received its token, can then make a request from the web application. The web application can verify the token, and signal the web browser that authentication was successful.

In the case depicted in FIG. 9A, IDCS acts as the Identity Provider (IdP) to provide identity service for applications. All the communications among all parties are HTTP based. This use case is configuration driven, but only applies to HTTP based application.

FIG. 9B shows an IDCS use case for Fabric Client Authentication, in accordance with an embodiment.

In accordance with an embodiment, a fabric client 904 that is associated with a fabric user that is already registered and enrolled (private key and certificates of this use are already stored in state store at client side) can request a new client( ) as well as getting the user context of the client (username). The fabric SDK 905 can load a user from the state store, and return a user object to the fabric client. The client, upon receiving the user object, can send a transaction proposal to the fabric SDK, which can sign the proposal using the same private key. The signed proposal can then go to the peer (or peers) 906, which will verify the signature at the membership service 907. The membership service can get the certificate for the user from the IDCS 902, and can verify the signature of the user using the certificate from the IDCS. The membership service can then return, to the peers, a verification that the signature is verified.

Ledger as a Service (LaaS)

In accordance with an embodiment, systems and methods described herein disclose a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for a distributed ledger product compared with the existing Blockchain PaaS, namely ledger as a service (LaaS).

In accordance with an embodiment, blockchain helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum) today, and users/developers need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. When a user designs a distributed ledger application, and then wishes to migrate the application to another blockchain, the application typically needs to go through lengthy and complex modification.

In accordance with an embodiment, while there are ways to alleviate the blockchain provision and management efforts like Blockchain Cloud Service, which is a Platform as a Service (PaaS), typically, users and developers still need to know how to use the underly blockchain APIs correctly.

In accordance with an embodiment, with LaaS, users can develop applications more efficiently and easy to migrate applications among different blockchain techniques and platforms (e.g., between Hyperledger and Ethereum). In addition, as it is expected that different blockchain techniques will need to be inter-connected with each other, then it will be a mandatory requirement to allow applications to run atop various platforms.

In accordance with an embodiment, this is different from current work that only focuses on directly exposing the blockchain APIs to end users and only support a single type of blockchain techniques.

In accordance with an embodiment, although there are numbers of blockchain techniques (such as different fabrics), they have some common properties. These common properties can be abstracted to form unique models as the ledger service. These abstracted properties are shown below in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Parameter Name Purpose Required Type The type of blockchain. This Each ledger must have a can include information such type. as public or private. It can also refer to specific blockchains, such as Hyperledger or Ethereum. ID The unique ID of the ledger. Each ledger must have an ID. Smart Some ledgers support the Each ledger supporting Contract customization of smart customized smart contracts contracts (e.g., Hyperledger, must have this parameter. If Ethereum), while others may the parameter is not present, only support inherent simple it will be ignored. contracts (e.g., Bitcoin). Include the Name, Action, and Parameters. Inherent Ledger specific parameters. Optional. parameters

In accordance with an embodiment, a ledger proxy, as described below, can treat all backend blockchains following the above model as described in Table 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates a ledger proxy that supports ledger as a service (LaaS), in accordance with an embodiment.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ledger proxy 1010 can comprise a parser and authenticator 1015, a database 1020, a process engine 1025, and fabric agents, such as fabric A agent 1030, and fabric B agent 1035. While shown as being part of the ledger proxy, the database 1020 does not necessarily need to be within a ledge proxy, and can instead be accessed by the ledger proxy.

In accordance with an embodiment, the request parser 1015 can be the first component of the ledger proxy that receives the request 1000 from a client. The parser/authenticator can validate a format of the request and check whether the request should be accepted via an authentication service (not shown). This authentication can be performed via any of the methods and systems described above, such as token based authentication, application-based authentication, digital certificate . . . etc.

In accordance with an embodiment, the parsing and authentication of the request 1000 can be performed in conjunction with the database 1020.

In accordance with an embodiment, after parsing and authentication, the request can be passed to the process engine 1025.

In accordance with an embodiment, when there is a new ledger created by the blockchain orchestration platform, information about the created ledger can be recorded at the database 1020 accordingly. The information about the newly created ledger can include one or more of, for example, the ledger type (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum), an access policy for the ledger, the ledger's capacity, and a listing of the members of the ledger.

In accordance with an embodiment, when a request reaches the process engine 1025, the process engine can check the parameters inside the request, e.g., how many nodes the request wants to touch, whether the specific ledger exists if given.

In accordance with an embodiment, if the process engine determines that everything is valid within the request 1000, the process engine can call a corresponding agent to translate the request 1000 to blockchain transactions.

In accordance with an embodiment, agents, such as fabric A agent 1030, and fabric B agent 1035, are used to translate the ledger-free request to valid transactions for given type of ledger to the respective ledgers, 1040 and 1045.

In accordance with an embodiment, multiple different types agents can be provided by a ledger proxy 1010, with at least one type of agent for each supported type of blockchain. As an example, if the ledger proxy supports both Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum, then the ledger proxy can provide at least one fabric agent for each Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the ledger proxy supports a permissioned blockchain, the associated agent can collect the endorsements from member nodes of that ledger, with given proof data in the original request.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the ledger proxy supports a permission-less blockchain, the agent can ensure the expected result be updated into the blockchain ledger. If the request failed, the agent will record the failure status into database 1020.

FIG. 11 shows a system for providing ledger as a service, in accordance with an embodiment.

More specifically, FIG. 11 shows a system for supporting ledger as a service when a request wants to call a smart contract.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ledger proxy 1110 can comprise a parser and authenticator 1115, a database 1120, a process engine 1125, and a Hyperledger fabric agent 1130. While shown as being part of the ledger proxy, the database 1120 does not necessarily need to be within a ledge proxy, and can instead be accessed by the ledger proxy.

In accordance with an embodiment, the request parser 1115 can be the first component of the ledger proxy that receives the smart contract request 1100 from a client, such as a ledger client. The parser/authenticator can validate a format of the request and check whether the request should be accepted via an authentication service (not shown). This authentication can be performed via any of the methods and systems described above, such as token based authentication, application-based authentication, digital certificate . . . etc.

In accordance with an embodiment, the parsing and authentication of the request 1100 can be performed in conjunction with the database 1120.

In accordance with an embodiment, after parsing and authentication, the request can be passed to the process engine 1125.

In accordance with an embodiment, when a request reaches the process engine 1125, the process engine can check the parameters 1101 inside the request, e.g., how many nodes the request wants to touch, whether the specific ledger exists if given.

In accordance with an embodiment, for example, the parameters of the smart contract request requesting smart contract “contract1” be called in the depicted embodiment are as shown below:

{ Ledger-type: hyperledger-fabric, // optional Ledger-id: “L1”, //optional Smart-contract: { //optional Name: “contract1”, Action: “write” parameters: [“a”, “b”, “1”] }, Ledger-inherent-parameters: { Numbers of endorsers: 2, //optional Numbers of committers: 2, //optional Access proofs: [xxxx, yyyy, zzzz] //optional } }

In accordance with an embodiment, after the parsing, the process engine will check local, to make sure the requestor is valid to send this request for the registered ledger “L1”.

In accordance with an embodiment, if the L1 ledger is valid, the process engine can check L1s type and call the corresponding agent 1130 to translate the request to specific blockchain transactions. As depicted, the ledger type is “Hyperledger-fabric”. For example, with the Hyperledger fabric, it's a read-write set with enough endorsement.

In accordance with an embodiment, since the ledger id is given, this mapping information will be added into the local database 1120.

In accordance with an embodiment, shown below is another example of a smart contract call, but without a ledger ID. This case is similar as the above one. The only difference is there's no specific ledger id.

{ Ledger-type: hyperledger-fabric, // optional Ledger-id: “”, //optional Smart-contract: { //optional Name: “contract1”, Action: “write” parameters: [“a”, “b”, “1”] }, Ledger-inherent-parameters: { Numbers of endorsers: 2, //optional Numbers of committers: 2, //optional Access proofs: [xxxx, yyyy, zzzz] //optional } }

In the above situation, in accordance with an embodiment, an existing ledger can be found that meets the given parameters and store the mapping information between the smart contract and the ledger. Then, the corresponding ledger ID can be returned to the client in response:

{ Status: “succeed”, Ledger-id: “L2” }

In accordance with an embodiment, shown below is an example of a smart contract or blockchain that supports query functionality. In such cases, the ledger proxy may allow this feature. The request may appear as below:

{ Ledger-type: hyperledger-fabric, // optional Ledger-id: “L1”, //optional Smart-contract: { //optional Name: “system”, Action: “query-all-keys-match” parameters: [“aa*”] }, Ledger-inherent-parameters: { Numbers of endorsers: 2, //optional Numbers of committers: 2, //optional Access proofs: [xxxx, yyyy, zzzz] //optional } }

In the above situation, in accordance with an embodiment, the returned response may be as follows:

{ Status: ″succeed″, Ledger-id: [“aa1″, “aa2”, “aa3”] }

In accordance with an embodiment, shown below an example of a backend range query for blockchains that support such queries. The ledger proxy can support this feature using smart contract parameters. An example request appears below:

{ Ledger-type: hyperledger-fabric, // optional Ledger-id: “”, //optional Smart-contract: { //optional Name: “contract1”, Action: “range-query” parameters: [“a1”, “a100”] }, Ledger-inherent-parameters: { Numbers of endorsers: 2, //optional Access proofs: [xxxx, yyyy, zzzz] //optional } }

In accordance with an embodiment, the ledger proxy described above can be deploy both in cloud as well as local environments. The provisioned ledger resource can be done with existing blockchain orchestration platforms. In order to allow Ledger Proxy to get correct information about the blockchain, the Blockchain orchestration platforms should allow the Ledger Proxy to query the existing ledgers in the network.

FIG. 12 illustrates transaction flow in a fabric of a system providing a blockchain service, in accordance with an embodiment.

More specifically, the figure illustrates a Blockchain Cloud Service (BCS) system in accordance with an embodiment. As shown, the Blockchain cloud service components are provisioned in compute space 1220 (e.g., external compute space), for example on the Oracle PaaS Service Manager (PSM) platform. Access to the system is mediated by the ledger proxy 1202. External Compute 1220 leverages a load balancing as a service LBaaS 1226 to distributed incoming transaction across the available appropriate resources.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS is an application-container layered service built with PSM platform on Application Container Cloud Service 1228. Each of the BCS entities runs on a separate container, thus allowing multiple BCS entities to run simultaneously and independently. Each of BCS entity is one-to-one correspondence to an application container. The Blockchain Cloud Service implements features of the Hyperledger fabric described above. Besides the components that construct the basic fabric network, several components are developed to leverage the Hyperledger Fabric into the Blockchain Cloud Service. These components need separate deployment behaviors and binaries to deploy these components. A Cloud Stack Manager can be used to empower users to automate the provisioning of all services defined by the blueprint as a single unit that is called a stack.

In an embodiment, the BCS can provide implementation of the Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, Bitcoin, or other permissioned or permission-less fabrics, which are implementations of a distributed ledger platform, some of which support the running of smart contracts. The BCS leverages container technology to host smart contracts called “chaincode” that comprise the application logic of the system.

In accordance with an embodiment, the distributed ledger protocol of the fabric is run by peers. The fabric distinguishes between two kinds of peers: A validating peer is a node on the network responsible for running consensus, validating transactions, and maintaining the ledger. On the other hand, a non-validating peer is a node that functions as a proxy to connect clients (issuing transactions) to validating peers. A non-validating peer does not execute transactions but it may verify them. Some key features of the fabric release include permissioned blockchain with immediate finality which runs arbitrary smart contracts called chaincode. The user-defined chaincode smart contracts are encapsulated in a container and system chaincode runs in the same process as the peer. The fabric implements a consensus protocol and security through support for certificate authorities (CAs) for TLS certificates, enrollment certificates and transaction certificates.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS entities run in layered container instances with ACCS 1228. The containers are created and/or started by provisioning operations of the PSM. The Fabric-CA Container 1230, is the container in which the BCS Fabric CA (Certificate and Authority) component is provided. The BCS Peer (Container) 1232 is the container in which the BCS peer network entity that maintains a ledger and runs chaincode containers in order to perform the read/write operations to the ledger component is running. The BCS Orderer Container 1234 is the container in which the BCS orderer which provides the service to order transactions into a blockchain for all of channels is running. The BCS Chaincode Execution Container 1239 is a container created and started by the peer entity. In the container, the chaincode execution unit communicates with the parent peer entity and performs encoding of assets and transaction instructions for modifying the assets in the blockchain.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS Chaincode Builder Container 1240 is a container created and started by the peer entity. In the container, the chaincode build environment is installed and deployed, and the chaincode execution unit is built in it. A client side Fabric SDK 1206 provides functionality for accessing the BCS. The Block Chain Cloud Service also leverages Event Hub Cloud Service 1250, Cloud Storage Service 1252, and Identity Service 1254. Oracle storage cloud service is used as the storage service for BCS.

In accordance with an embodiment, Docker/Weave 1241 are container services. Containers provide a way to package software in a format that can run isolated on a shared operating system. Unlike VMs, containers do not bundle a full operating system—instead using libraries and settings required to make the software work are needed. This makes for efficient, lightweight, self-contained systems and guarantees that software will always run the same, regardless of where it's deployed.

In accordance with an embodiment, each BCS instance comprises of different types of nodes. There can be few (e.g., 0 or more) to multiple peer nodes in a BCS instance. There can be few (e.g., 0) to multiple orderer nodes in a BCS instance. There are 1 to multiple Fabric-CA nodes in a BCS instance, one per VM. BCS Gateway: There can be few (e.g., 0) to multiple BCS gateways in a BCS instance. BCS console is also a component of a BCS instance. There is only one BCS console in a BCS instance.

In accordance with an embodiment, the BCS Management Server (Console) 1236 is a component of BCS, which provides rich monitor, management, and view functionalities to the BCS stack instance as described in more detail below. BCS Gateway (REST proxy) 1238 is a new component of BCS, and provides a REST API interface to customers/clients and is used to access the fabric to perform transactions as described in more detail below.

In accordance with an embodiment, on the public access client-side 1200, a ledger client 1201 can be provided that interacts directly with the ledger proxy 1202. The ledger client can allow users to interact with the BCS as a Ledger as a Service (LaaS). Users can develop applications more efficiently and easily migrate applications among different blockchain techniques and platforms (e.g., between Hyperledger and Ethereum).

In accordance with an embodiment, the ledger client 1201 can interact via the ledger proxy through requests comprising certain parameters, including type (of ledger), ID (of ledger), the smart contract which the request is calling (optional), and any inherent parameters (if the ledger being called supports such parameters).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for providing ledger as a service, in accordance with an embodiment.

In accordance with an embodiment, at step 1301, the method can provide, at a computer comprising a microprocessor, a blockchain service running on the computer, and a ledger proxy, the ledger proxy having access to a plurality of instances of blockchain services.

In accordance with an embodiment, at step 1302, the method can receive, at the ledger proxy, a request directed to a first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.

In accordance with an embodiment, at step 1303, the method can parse, by the ledger proxy, the received request directed to the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.

In accordance with an embodiment, at step 1304, the method can authenticate, by the ledger proxy, the received request.

In accordance with an embodiment, at step 1305, upon authentication of the received request, the method can execute, by the ledger proxy, the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.

In accordance with an embodiment, the ledger proxy can comprise, a parsing module, an authentication module, a process engine, and a plurality of fabric agents.

In accordance with an embodiment, the ledger proxy has access to a database comprising a memory.

In accordance with an embodiment, prior to executing the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, the method can identify, by the ledger proxy, a type of the blockchain service.

In accordance with an embodiment, upon identifying the type of the blockchain service, the method can initiate, by the ledger proxy, a fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated fabric agent being of the same type of the first blockchain service.

In accordance with an embodiment, the received request can call for an execution of a smart contract on the blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.

In accordance with an embodiment, the method can receive, by the ledger proxy, a second request for a second execution of the smart contract on a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, wherein the second blockchain service is of a different type that the first blockchain service. On such receiving of the second request, the method can parse, by the ledger proxy, the received second request directed to a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services. The method can authenticate, by the ledger proxy, the received second request. Upon authentication of the received second request, the method can initiate, by the ledger proxy, a second fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated second fabric agent being of the same type of the second blockchain service.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the features and principles of the disclosure and its practical application. The embodiments illustrate systems and methods in which the various features of the present disclosure are utilized to improve the performance of the systems and methods by providing new and/or improved functions, and/or providing performance advantages including, but not limited to, reduced resource utilization, increased capacity, increased throughput, improved efficiency, reduced latency, enhanced security, and/or improved ease of use.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowcharts and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products which illustrate the architecture, functionality, process, and/or operation. Each block in the flowchart or block diagram represents an element, function, process, module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified function. In some alternative embodiments, the functions noted in a block diagram or flowchart, occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently, or in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Each block of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions, and/or by special purpose hardware, and/or combinations of hardware and computer program instructions, which perform the specified functions.

In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented in a computer including a processor, a computer-readable storage medium, and a network card/interface for communicating with other computers. In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented in a network computing environment comprising a computing system including various types of computer configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like interconnected by a network. The network can be a Local Area Network (LAN), switch fabric network (e.g. InfiniBand), Wide Area Network (WAN), and/or the Internet. The network can include copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers.

In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., as a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described herein), or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components interconnected by a network. The computing system can include clients and servers having a client-server relationship to each other. In some embodiments, features of the disclosure are implemented in a computing system comprising a distributed computing environment in which one or more clusters of computers are connected by a network. The distributed computing environment can have all computers at a single location or have clusters of computers at different remote geographic locations connected by a network.

In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented in the cloud as part of, or as a service of, a cloud computing system based on shared, elastic resources delivered to users in a self-service, metered manner using Web technologies. Characteristics of the cloud may include, for example: on-demand self-service; broad network access; resource pooling; rapid elasticity; and measured service. Cloud deployment models include: Public, Private, and Hybrid. Cloud service models include Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Database as a Service (DBaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The cloud generally refers to the combination of hardware, software, network, and web technologies which delivers shared elastic resources to users. The cloud, as used herein, may include public cloud, private cloud, and/or hybrid cloud embodiments, and may include cloud SaaS, cloud DBaaS, cloud PaaS, and/or cloud IaaS deployment models.

In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented using, or with the assistance of hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are implemented using a processor configured or programmed to execute one or more functions of the present disclosure. The processor is in some embodiments a single or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a system on a chip (SOC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, state machine, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. In some implementations, features of the present disclosure are implemented by circuitry that is specific to a given function. In other implementations, features are implemented in a computer, computing system, processor, and/or network, configured to perform particular functions using instructions stored e.g. on a computer-readable storage media.

In some embodiments, features of the present disclosure are incorporated in software and/or firmware for controlling the hardware of a processing and/or networking system, and for enabling a processor and/or network to interact with other systems utilizing the features of the present disclosure. Such software or firmware may include, but is not limited to, application code, device drivers, operating systems, virtual machines, hypervisors, application programming interfaces, programming languages, and execution environments/containers. Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a computer program product which is a machine-readable or computer-readable storage medium (media) having instructions comprising software and/or firmware stored thereon/in, which instructions can be used to program or otherwise configure a system such as a computer to perform any of the processes or functions of the present disclosure. The storage medium or computer readable medium can include any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data including, but not limited to, floppy disks, hard drives, solid state drives, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrives, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards, molecular memories, nanosystems, or variations and combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the storage medium or computer readable medium is a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Additionally, where embodiments of the present disclosure have been described using a particular series of transactions and steps, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that, unless stated, the embodiment does not exclude performance of additional transactions and steps. Further, while the various embodiments describe particular combinations of features of the disclosure it should be understood that different combinations of the features will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art as within the scope of the disclosure. In particular, a feature (device-like or method-like) recited in a given embodiment, variant, or shown in a drawing may be combined with or replace another feature in another embodiment, variant or drawing, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various additions, subtractions, deletions, variations, substitutions of elements with equivalents, and other modifications and changes in form, detail, implementation and application can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing ledger as a service, comprising: a computer comprising a microprocessor; a blockchain service running on the computer; and a ledger proxy, the ledger proxy having access to a plurality of instances of blockchain services, wherein the ledger proxy comprises: a parsing module, an authentication module, a process engine, and a plurality of fabric agents, and wherein the ledger proxy has access to a database comprising a memory; wherein the ledger proxy receives a request directed to a first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; wherein the ledger proxy parses the received request directed to the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; wherein the ledger proxy authenticates the received request; and wherein, upon authentication of the received request, the ledger proxy executes the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein prior to executing the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, the ledger proxy identifies a type of the blockchain service; and wherein upon identifying the type of the blockchain service, the ledger proxy initiates a fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated fabric agent being of the same type of the first blockchain service.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the received request calls for an execution of a smart contract on the blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; wherein the ledger proxy receives a second request for a second execution of the smart contract on a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, wherein the second blockchain service is of a different type that the first blockchain service.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the ledger proxy parses the received second request directed to a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; wherein the ledger proxy authenticates the received second request; and wherein, upon authentication of the received second request, the ledger proxy initiates a second fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated second fabric agent being of the same type of the second blockchain service.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the received request comprises a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising at least a blockchain type and a blockchain identification.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises an identification of a smart contract to be invoked.
 7. A method for providing ledger as a service, comprising: providing, at a computer comprising a microprocessor, a blockchain service running on the computer; and a ledger proxy, the ledger proxy having access to a plurality of instances of blockchain services, wherein the ledger proxy comprises: a parsing module, an authentication module, a process engine, and a plurality of fabric agents, and wherein the ledger proxy has access to a database comprising a memory; receiving, at the ledger proxy, a request directed to a first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; parsing, by the ledger proxy, the received request directed to the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; authenticating, by the ledger proxy, the received request; and upon authentication of the received request, executing, by the ledger proxy, the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising prior to executing the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, identifying, by the ledger proxy, a type of the blockchain service; and upon identifying the type of the blockchain service, initiating, by the ledger proxy, a fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated fabric agent being of the same type of the first blockchain service.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the received request calls for an execution of a smart contract on the blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, the method further comprising: receiving by the ledger proxy, a second request for a second execution of the smart contract on a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, wherein the second blockchain service is of a different type that the first blockchain service.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: parsing, by the ledger proxy, the received second request directed to a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; authenticating, by the ledger proxy, the received second request; and upon authentication of the received second request, initiating, by the ledger proxy, a second fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated second fabric agent being of the same type of the second blockchain service.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the received request comprises a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising at least a blockchain type and a blockchain identification.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises an identification of a smart contract to be invoked.
 13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions thereon for providing ledger as a service, which when read and executed cause one or more computers to perform steps comprising: providing, at a computer comprising a microprocessor, a blockchain service running on the computer; and a ledger proxy, the ledger proxy having access to a plurality of instances of blockchain services, wherein the ledger proxy comprises: a parsing module, an authentication module, a process engine, and a plurality of fabric agents, and wherein the ledger proxy has access to a database comprising a memory; receiving, at the ledger proxy, a request directed to a first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; parsing, by the ledger proxy, the received request directed to the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; authenticating, by the ledger proxy, the received request; and upon authentication of the received request, executing, by the ledger proxy, the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services.
 14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, the steps further comprising: prior to executing the received request on the first blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, identifying, by the ledger proxy, a type of the blockchain service; and upon identifying the type of the blockchain service, initiating, by the ledger proxy, a fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated fabric agent being of the same type of the first blockchain service.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the received request calls for an execution of a smart contract on the blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, the steps further comprising: receiving by the ledger proxy, a second request for a second execution of the smart contract on a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services, wherein the second blockchain service is of a different type that the first blockchain service.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the steps further comprising: parsing, by the ledger proxy, the received second request directed to a second blockchain service of the plurality of blockchain services; authenticating, by the ledger proxy, the received second request; and upon authentication of the received second request, initiating, by the ledger proxy, a second fabric agent of the plurality of fabric agents, the initiated second fabric agent being of the same type of the second blockchain service.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the received request comprises a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising at least a blockchain type and a blockchain identification; and wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises an identification of a smart contract to be invoked. 